Positive And Negative Consequences Of Abolishing The Electoral College

1. If I was a House member from a small state that voted for Al Gore, and many of my constituents were angry that he won the popular vote but lost the election and wanted me to introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, I would not. Although many of my constituents would want me to, I feel that I would be doing a disservice to my constituents by following a delegate model. Adhering to the will of my constituents may please my constituents, but introducing an amendment just because my constituents are angry shows that I am quick to act on what my constituents demand without acknowledging the consequences, both positive and negative, of these demands. It also shows that I do not take time to think about my actions …show more content…
Ignoring the wants of my candidates could potentially have very negative effects on my being reelected as a House member. If I do not act in the interest of my constituents, then they may vote for someone who will. Rather than proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, I would express my support for a modification of the Electoral College. This shows that I have reviewed both the positive and negative consequences of an abolition of the Electoral College, such as the impacts that Schlesinger Jr. describes, such as the positive consequence of the increased urgency for voters to vote and the negative consequence of the party system being …show more content…
If the politics of getting approval for a proposal was not relevant, the reform from the articles which I would support is James Glassman’s proposal that the Electoral College should work like how it does in Nebraska and Maine. I support a “living constitution”, a Constitution which is interpreted in regards to the current times. I think that the Electoral College imagined by the Founding Fathers suits the increasingly diverse and growing United States. In Nebraska and Maine, each state gives one electoral vote to the candidate who wins the most votes within each congressional district, and the state’s other two electoral votes go to the candidate with the most votes statewide. I think that this is the best way of giving a voice to the electorate while maintaining the security of the Electoral College. As Schlesinger Jr. acknowledges, abolishing the Electoral College completely would ensue mayhem. Direct elections, although very democratic, could severely impact the two-party system, which is a source of stability, could offer incentives for radical and flamboyant characters to participate in presidential contests, and direct election would make it very likely that candidates do not receive anywhere near a majority of the popular vote. By awarding Electoral College votes by congressional district, voters are encouraged to go out and vote because their vote has a greater say in the number of Electoral College votes award to their preferred candidate. However, if politics