Electoral College Reform.

If none of the Presidential candidates achieve a majority of the votes, is it not still the people themselves who should determine the President? This can be done countless ways without the existing governing body getting their biased hands on the issue3. For example, voters could be given four votes to be given to the candidates they choose. The votes could all be given to one candidate or spread however the voter wanted. This way when all votes are counted the first past the post could be declared the choice of the majority of the people, whether first or second or other choice. This would prevent an upset of the delicate balance of powers found in the American Federal Government. This happened once in 1824 when Andrew Jackson, who held the most Electoral College votes and the most popular vote, lost the election to John Q. Adams since the House voted in favour of the later candidate. John H. Eaton, the campaign manager for

Andrew Jackson made this statement at the time, "Look to the city of Washington. There corruption is springing into existence, and fast flourishing.4" In this instance, the system worked not only against the wishes of the people but also against itself, giving the second place candidate the presidency.

The Electoral College is an unnecessarily complex system. It is true that when the Constitution was ratified there was neither an efficient way for all individual votes to be counted, nor a way for all eligible voters to be truly knowledgeable of the candidates' beliefs or values for the country. This is why People voted for electors rather than directly for the President. In today's world of media and communication, however, news of each candidate's campaigns and speeches are readily available to even the poorest Americans. In addition to this, popular vote statistics have been available since 1824, and could easily be counted officially to determine the President5. Since the necessity for electors has long been void, the system now uses them only in theory. Therefore, such a redundant position, as in all other systems, should be eliminated. One does not continue to hire a farm hand after the farm has been sold. The people of the American working class are now and have been able for quite some time to decide for themselves who the most worthy presidential candidate is.

It is quite evident that the current system needs to be changed, however, the question arises as to whether or not it will be changed. If this system has been obsolete for nearly six generations and has still not had a major proposal put before Congress, is it likely that any changes will be made in the near future or is it more likely that the liberty loving Americans will forego on this one, and focus instead on fighting wars and making money? True, several articles have been written on the subject of reform but stories of dictators with biological weapons and rising oil prices draw far more attention than the need for a new electoral system. Besides, the current President was elected through one of the system's loopholes, and seems to prefer war to having attention drawn to this or the many other domestic problems that plague the United States today.

Finally, I present the American people with a question that should examine their values and priorities; are they truly concerned with Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness or do their pocket books mean more to them? Does the system need to change, and if it does, are the American people willing to work to change it?

Bibliography

. Hancock, "Distribution of Electoral Votes" February 18, 1997 <http://www.fec.gov/pages/elecvote.htm>

2. NARA, "2000 Presidential Election; Popular Vote Totals." Federal Register, November 20, 2002 <http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/popular_vote_2000.html>

4. National Archives and Records Administration. "Election of 1824", November 20, 2002 <http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/american_originals/expand.html>

Russia, at the time was not under any form of democracy and was clearly totalitarian.

2 The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume II, "Letter to Joshua F. Speed" (August 24, 1855), p. 323.

3 The current electoral system states that if no candidate achieves a majority of the Electoral College votes then the House of Representatives chooses the President form among the top three contenders.

4 John H. Eaton, campaign manager for Andrew Jackson, 1824

5 See attached charts