- Position1 of 2›
- Yes, we should abolish the Electoral College
The United States has changed significantly since the Electoral College was introduced, and it no longer reflects the reality of its population.
The argument
The Electoral College was created at a time when the population density and the geography of the United States of America was vastly different. The fact that the Electoral College has not been updated or reformed means it increasingly does not reflect a modern industrialised society where the majority of the population have moved from rural areas to urban city centres. Nor does the Electoral College account for voters in American territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.
Premises
Counter-arguments
Under a system where presidential elections are decided by plurality of voters, candidates are likely to campaign in areas of high population density. If adopted in the US this would lead to voters from large rural areas being ignored. The Electoral College instead ensures that candidates campaign in parts of the country that they would normally avoid, exposing them to a variety of opinions.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] The Electoral College is actually better for reflecting the US population, as it ensures voices usually not prioritised are heard.