Revise the electoral College
Abolishing the Electoral College would be difficult to do, so revising it instead might be a better option.
Some states have attempted to combat the monumental task of abolishing the Electoral College by adopting a measure that would make a constitutional amendment unnecessary. Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), states that sign it agree to award their electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote, revising the current system to make it so that the popular vote is prioritized over electoral votes.
Unfortunately, this measure can only work if enough states adopt it that their combined electoral votes add up to the magic 270. As of 2016, the states that have signed it have electoral votes adding up to only 165 votes.
The National Bonus Plan has also been proposed. In this plan, 102 electoral votes would be added to those that we already have, bringing the number to 640. These extra electoral votes would be automatically awarded to the winner of the popular vote, almost ensuring that that candidate would win the Electoral College as well.
The most popular plan, however, is something Maine and Nebraska are already doing.
These are the only two states in the country that do not follow the “winner-takes-all” way of awarding electoral votes. Instead, Maine and Nebraska employ what is called the “congressional district method” in which electoral votes are awarded based on the popular vote in individual congressional districts. However, two votes still go to whichever candidate wins the statewide popular vote.
Using the "congressional district method" in all 50 states would be much more representative of what the people want. Because the popular vote is being counted at the congressional district level instead of the state level, electoral votes in each state can be awarded to multiple candidates. For example, 7 of Maryland's districts typically vote Democrat and the last typically votes Republican. With the congressional district method in place, the latter district's vote can be awarded to the Republican candidate instead of going to the Democrat like the rest of the votes.
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There’s nothing preventing the states from switching to this method. An article published by The Hill reminds us that there is nothing in the Constitution that binds states to the winner-takes-all method.
The Electoral College should be revised because it is within the states' rights to change how it is utilized and it would make our current system more democratic. It would better represent the rights and interests of those who live in low-population areas and make electoral votes more equal in weight.
The Electoral College should be revised because it is within the states' rights to change how it is utilized and it would make our current system more democratic. It would better represent the rights and interests of those who live in low-population areas and make electoral votes more equal in weight.