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MESSAGE BOARD Is it time to get rid of the Electoral College?
In "Peculiar institution," Alexander Keyssar describes the nearly successful effort to get rid of the Electoral College in 1969-70 and suggests that its survival may owe more to the legacy of slavery, and the political power of the South, than to efforts by small states to preserve any mathematical advantage. After the experience of the 2000 election, and the prospect of a repeat this November, has the time finally come to abolish the Electoral College? Who stands to gain? Who to lose?
Page 1 With instant information, polling and counting, a vote should be counted as a vote. Abolishing the Electoral College is the only way to true democracy. It should be done immediately. Cristina, Medford The Electoral College is antiquated and should be eliminated. Popular vote is tabulated quickly, and highlights the unfairness of the current system. Presidential Campaigns focus on Electoral College votes rather than popular votes, since this is how the winer is determined. In this day of reliable electronic tabulation, the Electoral College (an antiquated concept included in the U.S. Constitution) should be abolished. Peter, Cohasset Yes definitely, the electoral college dilutes democracy and shifts the focus from people to a few marginal states. Time to change with the times. The Constitution is a living document, not one carved into stone. Also instant runoff would be good too. In other words, Select by rank order not just either/or. So if my selection is Bush-1, Kerry-2, Jones-3, the tallying should reflect which is my first choice, second, etc. Scott , Winchester MA Don't get rid of the electoral college. Without it, Gore would have won and we wouldn't have gotten the Bush tax cuts. If you think the tax cuts weren't deserving, look no further than the Big Dig. $2 billion per mile for an 8 mile highway. Or the story in yesterday's Globe that they have no idea where $1.4 billion went in Iraq. Or the scandal with the student loan interest rates. Peter, Cambridge Coming from another country, Denmark always thought the American Electoral College an unfair institution since USA has "one persone one vote" hence it ought to be that way. Lya , Falmouth Keep the Electoral College. Whithout it, the president will always be chosen by major metropolitan areas - NYC, LA, Chicago. Every system is flawed; at least here there is an attempt to find invest some value to votes from rural states. tblade, dorchester The electoral college is a method by which the founders tried to distribute the reposibility for electing our president to all people not just the major population centers, According to the last census 75% of the populatiopn of the US lives within 75 miles of a coast. If the popular vote is the only one that counts LA and NTY would have a huge and unfair influence on the political face of the nation. One other problem if the electoral system is eliminated the every state would be subject to endless recounts in any close election as a candidaste who loses in florida demands recounts in Colorodo, New Mexico and Wisconsin to try and make up the difference in Florida- talk about a nightmare!! mike, Ashland As long as teh electoral college proportinally represents the voters, then it should stay. I can just imagine Dems now: "It's not fair! There were 3 voters in Missouri who were too moronic to decipher the ballot - I demand a recount! Waaah!" Ed, Lancaster As long as the electoral college proportionally represents voters, then it is probably necessary. The biggest probelm with our current system is that, in states like Massachusetts, where people don't vote for a candidate, but for a party, we don't learn as much about our candidates and Republican votes don't count. I can just imagine the voting "scandals" raised by the Dems if we simply tallied every vote in one bucket. Ed , Lancaster You have to keep it. Without it, Texas, California, and New York decide every election, period. At least this way, smaller states and rural areas get a say in the matters as well... Jeff, Newport
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