Should the US Abolish the Electoral College?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 9/30/2019 9:53:27 AM PST

The Electoral College was established in Article II of the US Constitution by the founding fathers as a compromise between a popular vote and having Congress choose the president. To win the presidency, a candidate must obtain 270 electoral votes. There have been five times in US history when a candidate won the popular vote but did not win the Electoral College and therefore lost the election.

For more information, read the top 3 pros and cons of using the electoral college.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, "U.S. Electoral College," archives.gov (accessed Sep. 30, 2019)

Pro

Hawkins

Con

Jorgensen

Trump

Not Clear or Not Found

Biden

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Hawkins
Green

"In two of the last five presidential elections, the Electoral College has given us presidents who lost the popular vote. We will call for a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College."

Source: Howie Hawkins, "Perspectives and Policies for a Green Presidential Campaign," howiehawkins.us (Accessed June 24, 2020)

Con (No)

Con

Jorgensen
Libertarian

"No. The electoral college was designed to protect representation of all states."

Source: Communication from the Jorgensen campaign to ProCon.org on Aug. 26, 2020

Now Con

Trump
Republican

"The brilliance of the Electoral College is that you must go to many States to win. With the Popular Vote, you go to just the large States - the Cities would end up running the Country. Smaller States & the entire Midwest would end up losing all power - & we can’t let that happen. I used to like the idea of the Popular Vote, but now realize the Electoral College is far better for the U.S.A."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 19, 2019

[Editor's Note: Trump previously expressed a PRO opinion on this question. Read Trump's former position on whether the electoral college should be abolished.]

None Found

Biden
Democrat

No position found as of Sep. 30, 2019.

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