This type of system would give the individual voter a much more significant influence. The Constitution specifically leaves details like how the electoral votes are cast up to the states. Evidence as to how a nationwide presidential campaign would be run can be found by examining the way presidential candidates currently campaign inside battleground states. NPV is more than a third of the way to its goal. Either would likely produce an electoral vote count closer to the popular vote. For under its plan, the next time the U.S. has very close national vote, a recount would not be of six million votes in one state but of more than 130 million votes in all states and the District of Columbia, all with their own rules for conducting a recount. 2. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 8. Congressional District Method - Electoral College Reform - Weebly Thats a bank of about 14 million potential voters that reliably vote as a majority for Democratic candidates. Longley, Robert. 5. Definition and Examples. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. The amendment requires that any change to the rate of compensation for members of Congress can only take effect after a subsequent election in the House of Representatives. Electoral College and National Popular Vote Pros and Cons The National Popular Vote stems from the winner-take-all approach that validates the presidential candidate interactions with only 4 out of 50 dates during their campaign. The National Popular Vote stems from the winner-take-all approach that validates the presidential candidate interactions with only 4 out of 50 dates during their campaign. on Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, Follow All U.S. Citizens Should Vote. 6. Electoral College Pros and Cons - ThoughtCo Would you like to get a custom essay? . It makes things easier for extreme parties to gain representation. That view of democracy recognizes the existence and desirability of organized interests and enshrines that principle under the concept of pluralism. 2. In the 2020 general election, a ballot proposition attempted to overturn Colorado's membership to the pact, but the measure failed, 52.3% to 47.7% in the referendum. The cost of a presidential election in the United States is already several billion dollars. Here is the entire text of the proposed "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." Tweet Email this More on The Electoral College: Honorable Steve Cohen Congressional District Method by Riley Dimmock - Prezi Under the plan, Michigan's 15 Electoral . 4. National Popular Vote: A Status Update - FairVote It would reduce diversity in the election structures. The electoral college encourages a two-party system and rewards candidates who have broad appeal. As the National Popular Vote (NPV) movement steps up its effort to impose a direct election for president, attempting to enlist states with a sufficient number of electors to constitute a majority (268) and to bind them to the winner of the national popular vote, those states considering the proposal might first reflect on the nightmare aftermath According to the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, some proponents of the Electoral College argue that it isolates election problems, such as illegally extended voting hours or irregularly high voter turnout. After the process, the President of the Senate reveals who has officially been voted in as President and Vice President of the United States. The NPV movement seeks to create an unfair and unconstitutional system that diminishes the voting rights of citizens throughout the country and raises the prospect of increased voter fraud and. Why National Popular Vote Would Be a Disaster for America (and NPV But the much greater danger to American democracy is that direct elections may make it possible for a president to be elected by no more than 30 percent of the vote, regardless of his or her suitability for office, so long as there is sufficient money and a clever media advisor behind the effort. It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes, and will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more. Although the 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides clarity to this situation, that process is based on the electoral college. Because there was a difference of less than 1,000 tabulated votes between George W. Bush and Al Gore in one state, Florida, the nation watched as 6 million votes were recounted by machine, several hundred thousand were recounted by hand in counties with differing recount standards, partisan litigators fought each other in state and federal courts, the secretary of state backed by the majority of state legislators (all Republicans) warred with the state's majority Democratic judiciary -- until 37 days after the election the U.S. Supreme Court, in a bitterly controversial 5-4 decision effectively declared Bush the winner. Under the electoral college system, the candidates which receive the most votes in each state (or district) receive its assigned electoral votes. National popular vote - Ballotpedia It understands that while the nation is one union, it is also an amalgam of varying experiences and perspectives arrived at via the settings and unique problems surrounding those who live in different places, and that these differences fall within the broad rubric of federalism. what connection type is known as "always on"? It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes, and will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more. On average, studies show that falls in line with historical averages showing around 60 percent of eligible voters casting a vote in presidential election years. Security would be improved across the country. The years-old effort is slowly making its way through state legislatures in hopes of changing the way PDF Problems With the National Popular Vote Plan 1. That effectively means that votes in the the 75% of the country that are in swing states effectively dont count at all. Colorado is on the verge of joining a nationwide movement that could eventually change how we choose the next president of the United States. Even though we will be able to elect the president by national popular vote using the The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, eventually the rules for how we elect the president should be an official part of the Constitution. In 2016, Hillary Clinton had more than 10 million of these votes, while Donald Trump had more than 8.3 million, even though Trump won 30 states and Clinton won 20 and the District of Columbia. List of the Cons of Using the Popular Vote 1. Longley, Robert. District Plan by Hannah Patzer - Prezi Probably the NPV Compact would be enacted into law with as little as a simple majority of the states and possibly even less. This blog post is a joint effort with Leslie Francis, former executive director of the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The Electoral College was established in the Constitution to protect minority interests and mitigate the possibility of a regional candidate. Here are the Cons of the Electoral College 1. The pros and cons of the popular vote structure of an election allow for the majority to have their say in who they wish to serve. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential ticket wins the overall popular vote in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Candidates feel they either cant win or lose with the votes from these states. In a closely contested direct popular election, every precinct across the country might require close examination, rather than a handful of states or precincts. The horror of a potential national recount is only one of the dangers direct presidential elections poses. Popular Vote History & Overview | What Does Popular Vote Mean The National Popular Vote Bill is not a Democrat or Republican bill. National Popular Vote Plan page 3 that non-member states that fail to hold such elections will not be included in the determination of 'the national popular vote winner.' This sidesteps the problem and provides an incentive for all states (non-members as well as members) to (continue to) hold such elections. The NPVC is a proposed interstate compact in which the signatory states agree that they will appoint their presidential electors in accordance with the national popular vote rather than their own state electorate's vote. That means every state is allowed a minimum of 3 electoral votes. How the National Popular Vote Plan Would Work. cons of the national popular vote plan. Cookie Notice 7. A popular vote system would significantly impact voters and turnout. The lack of competition and campaigning in a majority of states owes itself not to the existence of the Electoral College's indirect method of choosing presidents but rather to the winner-take-all method of choosing electors in all but two states. The appeal of NPV is the simplicity of its message. 13 Early College High School Pros and Cons, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. The United States has a representative democracy rather than a direct democracy: Citizens elect representatives rather than voting on each bill. And unlike direct elections, either would provide an incentive for grass-roots activity, coalition building and enhanced citizen participation. The appeal of NPV is the simplicity of its message. Regional candidates could secure enough votes to win a national election. Activating the National Popular Vote compact would reshape our . Voters in spectator states, including five of the nations 10 most populous states (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey), and 12 of the 13 least populous states (all but New Hampshire) have no real incentive to go to the polls as their votes do not affect the outcome of the election. There are logistical issues that are managed at the local level in each election. The National Popular Vote Plan. It would limit the influence of local issues in the election. As with other powers entrusted to the states, it is an application, not a circumvention, of the Constitution when the states utilize those powers as they see fit. When you cast your ballot, you're not actually voting directly for your favored presidential candidate. That offers the possibility that someone unwilling or unable to hold the office could be elected. You can use essay samples to find ideas and inspiration for your paper. What Is The District Plan? This Electoral College Reform - Bustle Note: Today we are in a phase where the popular vote in presidential elections leans Democratic. Using the NPV system means that every vote counts the same. Under the electoral college, the majority votes of states assign electoral votes to a candidate, which then creates a majority total required for a victory. The National Popular Vote (NPV) refers to the concept of allocating a state's presidential electors to the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide regardless of the state results in a presidential election. Yet, by May 2021, 15 states and Washington, D.C., had signed onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact In the 2016 Presidential Election if the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact had been in effect the winner of the national popular vote, Hillary Clinton, would have become president instead of Donald Trump. Advantages of the NPV Interstate Compact 1. For example, if a state used NPV and voted for candidate A, but candidate B received the most votes nationwide, the state would allocate its presidential electors to candidate B. Definition and Examples, How Political Party Convention Delegates are Chosen, What Is a Caucus? It would eliminate the threat of a faithless elector. Although this may limit the amount of diversity that occurs in office, and may generate extra financial costs, the argument could be made that these risks outweigh the results of an election where a majority of states, not a majority of people, put someone into office. In U.S. history, the electoral college winner has failed to secure the popular vote 5 times. According to Article II, Section 1, "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress." Washington, DC 20005, Common Cause pays tribute to our leader, our friend, and a lifelong advocate for our democracy, Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Issues, Ensure Fair Districts & Reflective Democracy, Expand Voting Rights & Election Integrity, Promote Free Speech & Accountability in Media, Protect the Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Reforms. All samples were added by students. Richard F. Potthoff looks critically at a proposed alternative way of electing the US president, the National Popular Vote plan, where all states in an interstate compact which cover 270 or more electoral votes would cast their electoral votes for the candidate who won the nationwide vote, no matter who wins their state. every decade states are redistricted could be redrawn to capture house seats and corrupt the Presidential election Resource allocation would be focused on paid advertising, which would negate the need for grassroots activities. All other votes cast for that candidate are therefore superfluous. If that was to take place, America could potentially face the same issues it is facing now. And thats not how it should be in a democracy. Under the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system votes in small states, like Wyoming or Delaware count double what votes in large states like California or Texas. Here are the essential pros and cons of popular vote elections to examine. national popular vote plan pros and cons - shipoom.com But we're closer to that than you might think 15 states and the District of Columbia have already signed on, providing 196 electoral votes of the needed 270. That means the cost of counting all the votes would be duplicated. The Electoral College: An Overview and Analysis of Reform Proposals Popular vote better than Electoral College, Stanford scholars say Without any sort of broad support, the politics of the country could become even more fractured than they already are. Over the years, the National Popular Vote bill has been introduced in the legislatures of all 50 states. It has also happened four times out of the 56 presidential elections. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. cons of the national popular vote plansuper lemon haze greenhouse. NPV supporters claim, accurately, that a direct election for president would reduce or eliminate the possibility that a fringe candidate (like a Ralph Nader or Ron Paul) winning five percent or less of the vote in a single state could serve to defeat a major party candidate from the same side of the political spectrum. This brings us to 196 of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate the pact. Currently, the National Popular Vote bill has 172 electoral votes. For the popular vote, however, Hillary Clinton received 65.8 million votes, while Donald Trump received 62.9 million votes. As of now, 15 states and Washington, D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote compact: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Delaware and Oregon. Unexpected emergencies would be difficult to handle. After all, is said and done, the candidate who attains the largest number of votes can still lose. It would eliminate the Congressional provisions for a non-majority election. Richards earned a master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University. 10 Apr. The bill has passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes. It is also true that no president since 1824 has received the votes of a majority of the eligible voters and 18 presidents, including Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, John. That would increase the amount of polarization being experienced in politics today because there would be less of a need to compromise. The cost of a presidential election in the United States is already several billion dollars. That is hardly a mandate for governing, though it would be taken as such. Second, some believe itll intensify election problems, such as illegally extended voting hours or irregularly high voter turnout (Richards). It is perhaps the most simplistic form of an election. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Wyoming had just 3 electoral votes, but only had 255,000 voters as well. However, Hilary Clinton won 2.6 million more popular votes nationwide than Donald Trump. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? But if we set politics aside and focus on what is really best for democracy in our country in the long run I believe that the advantages of using the NPV compact to elect our president outweigh the disadvantages and the best way to elect our president in the 21st century is by direct popular vote using Ranked Choice Voting. A switch to the popular vote would eliminate the concept of a battleground state because the issue would be more on issues than states. This National Popular Vote Compact wouldn't take effect until states with 270 electors a majority joined in. Many people may feel that any major change in how we elect the president should be in the Constitution and not in a legal loop hole even if its legal and technically constitutional. But the national popular vote plan doesn't require a . The National Popular Vote compact would have the same effect as a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College but has the benefit of retaining the power to control presidential elections in states hands. ThoughtCo. In the 2016 election, only 58 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. evergreen funeral home live stream. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact collectively apportions votes to the winner of the overall popular vote without a constitutional amendment abolishing the electoral college or the assent of Congress. Candidates get one vote for every congressional district they win, and then two votes for winning the state-wide vote. Samploon is a database of free essay samples. 5. More people live in urban regions, which means they would have a constant sway over the election. 27 Major Pros & Cons Of The Electoral College - E&C Pros and cons of district elections | Columnists | smdailyjournal.com [Add switching votes of losing party to the other partys voter totals in every state using the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system (except for 5 EC votes in Maine and Nebraska that are awarded proportionally instead of by Winner-Take-All.]. In the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore won the popular vote by more than 500,000 ballots, but George Bush became president by winning the Electoral College 271 to 266. The winner-take-all rule is not required by the Constitution and was actually used by only three states in the nation's first presidential election in 1789. The NPV is a multi-state agreement that, when active, would ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationally also wins in the Electoral College. There are a number of pros for this method. Feb 25, 2023. (LogOut/ Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. The danger of NPV is that it will undermine the complex and vital underpinnings of American democracy. District Plan CONS Technically still possible, but A LOT hard to do so District 1 = Romney 57% District 2 = Romney 52% District 3 = Romney 70% Gerrymandering. Today the Democrats want to replace the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system with a direct popular vote and the Republicans adamantly want to keep it. How the US Electoral College System Works, Biography of Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, What Is Statutory Law?