Gauging from the recent momentum, lawmakers across the country have come to see that it might finally be possible to reform the outmoded, undemocratic Electoral College. Credit. Progressively a politically influential nation is being made rather than compartmentalized power parts. 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. A strong democracy makes every vote equal and every voter relevant. On the other hand, the winner-take-all method of voting favors the larger states. Charles Potters. Al Gore won the nationwide popular vote, but George W. Bush . Consequently, dividing up Commons according to each party's share of the vote would make it more difficult for any one party to amass a majority of seats. This proves the system is working. Get started for FREE Continue. Under the congressional-district method of awarding electoral votes, one electoral vote is awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in each of a state's congressional districts. In 227 years, the winner of the popular vote has lost the electoral vote only six times. Rebecca West (1892-1983) " I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution. This includes the representation of small states with populations not as big. Gives too few states too much electoral power. On April 15, 2014 Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York State quietly signed into law the National Popular Vote, making New York the 10th state -- along with the District of Columbia -- to support this effort, while also boosting the total numbers to 165 of the 270 electoral votes needed to make a true national popular vote a reality.Every member of Congress has one Electoral College vote, which . Therefore, when a country has an alarmingly low voter turnout, it could build the danger of political unsteadiness realized by emergencies or pioneers with shrouded plans. David Cameron today hardened the resolve of Scottish nationalists to win independence for their nation by interfering with SNP referendum plans . News > Nation We the People civics lesson: The pros and cons of an Electoral College. The winner would receive one vote per congressional district won with the winner of the state popular vote gaining a two electoral votes. - Each state's lawmaking body would. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) Each The amount suggested by Schlesinger in his National Bonus Plan is 102 extra electoral votes (two for every state and two for . If you need 321 electoral votes to win, and you can get 102 by winning the national. popular plurality, you need only 219 of the state electoral votes. A national popular vote would make sure no state is disadvantaged and every vote is equal. 1. Pro #1: It keeps smaller states relevant in national politics. In states with large population centers, individual voters have less power than voters in smaller states. Advantage: Represents Citizens Equally. UPDATED: Mon., May 3, 2021. Ken Bickers. While student loan forgiveness might have "seemed like a good idea" i It reduces the cost of a college tuition. A goal of the New Jersey Plan is to protect state sovereignty, or supreme power. When you vote for a presidential candidate, you are actually voting for a group of electors from your state . of the nationwide popular vote. As part of his 32-point plan to "restore democracy," Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that if elected, he would create a special, all-party parliamentary committee to study alternatives to the current first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, including ranked ballots . Total: 538 electoral college votes; 270 votes constitute a majority. To date, 15 states and DC have passed legislation to enter the compact for a combined total of 196 electoral votes, meaning the compact is over 72.6% of the way to activation. Abstract. every decade states are redistricted could be redrawn to capture house seats and corrupt the Presidential election. Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau makes an announcement on fair and open government in Ottawa on June 16, 2015. Experts suggest first-past-the-post . It has been enacted into law by 15 states and DC with 195 electoral votes ( Map of states ). Significant benefits include: Paying Tax Only on What You Spend. Whatever he may say about giving Scots a clear choice "sooner rather than later", the only reason he has done this is to make the referendum less likely to . The League of Women Voters has supported a national popular vote since 1970 because we believe the most important officeholders of the land our President and Vice President . We have remedied the disenfranchisement of women, African Americans . The Congressional District method would allocate electoral votes based on the winner of each congressional district. Each state appoints electors pursuant to the methods described by its legislature, equal in number to its congressional delegation (senators . This Lesson of the . William Jefferson Clinton, known as Bill Clinton, served as the 42nd President of the United States from Jan. 20, 1993 to Jan. 19, 2001.. His proponents contend that under his presidency the US enjoyed the lowest unemployment and inflation rates in recent history, high home ownership, low crime rates, and a budget surplus. NPV seeks to ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes nationwide is elected president. The National Popular Vote (NPV) movement emerged in late 2006 and has slowly gain some steam since then. The FairTax plan may be advantageous to many groups, especially the wealthy and those at or below the poverty line. On the other hand, universal healthcare may lead to a healthier populace, and thus, in the long-term, help to mitigate the economic . Disadvantages of universal healthcare include significant upfront costs and logistical challenges. The proportional plan is where a state's electoral college votes are distributed based on the proportion of the vote their party received. This means that the show more content Some of the pros of the system is that it protects the minority interests. The New Jersey Plan also calls for a separation . Cons: Can disregard the will of the majority. Voters in Wyoming have 3.6 times more voting power than voters in California because of the disparity in population and how . The Fair Tax Plan is a sales tax proposal that would replace the current U.S. income tax structure. If the presidential election were switched to the popular vote, then it would only take about 35% of the vote for a candidate to win. Democratic electors in Nevada signing their ballots for the Electoral College in 2016. Sen. Karl Mundt, R-S.D., poses in 1963 with a map showing the key states that then . In 1961, the 23 rd Amendment provided for three electors from the District of . In the 10% plan the pros were : Only 10% of voters had to pledge allegiance to the union , there would be a new constitution to ban slavery and offered amnesty to the southerners or official pardon for illegal acts supporting the rebellion. Maine and Nebraska, however, appoint indi - vidual electors based on the winner of the popular vote for each Congressional district and then two electors based on the winner of the overall statewide popular vote. Speaking of taxes The Electoral College gives a numeric advantage in the election of the president to the smaller states, as the minimum number of electors for the small states is three compared to one for the election of representatives. Al Gore won the nationwide popular vote, but George W. Bush . Contact. The bill has passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes. For example, in 1967, 58 percent favored its abolition, while in 1981, 75 percent of . To sidestep this difficulty, a new movement known as the National Popular Vote Plan (NPV) has sought to abolish the electoral college with-out amending the Constitution. A popular vote structure would virtually eliminate the idea of a third-party candidate having a chance in an election. In Election 2000, the eight most populous states had 228. The Wade Davis bill also made it hard for people to vote so they started looking at the 10% plan. In fact, when I first saw the National Popular Vote Plan, I defaulted to a "No" position on the concept. Graham discusses one potential benefit of the NPVIC: "In states like California, where in almost every case all of the Electoral votes will go to the Democratic Party, what reason does a Republican candidate have . Although that means parents would need to apply for their local ECHS program in some way, there is generally no cost associated with such a program. A number of constitutional amendments have . Under Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution, as amended by the 12 th Amendment in 1804, each state is required to appoint electors in the manner directed by its state legislature. They give him credit for eliminating the federal deficit and reforming . State and District of Columbia Appointment of Electors. Under the NPV, states pass laws award-ing their votes in the electoral college to the winner of the national popu-1. Pros and Cons of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Read More By Jon S. Cardin September 2007. Whereas the Electoral College currently focuses campaigns on winning just a few swing states, the direct popular vote would greatly expand the electoral playing fieldRepublicans campaigning in . roller rink construction the district plan pros and cons. There were at least 752 known proposals to change the electoral system from 1789 to 2017, according to the Congressional Research Service. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and . In other words, supporters of the NPVC need a few more states totaling 89 electoral votes before the NPVC goes into effect, at which point - in theory - the winner of the national popular vote would become President regardless of what non-signatory states do. It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes, and will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more. It gives more voting power to individual voters in smaller states. Good Essays . For years, a majority of Americans have opposed the Electoral College. Throughout our country's history, we have been vigilant in expanding democracy, empowering individuals and correcting injustices through the ballot box. According to information on the NPVIC website, as of August 20, 2019, there are a total of 196 electoral votes committed to the NPVIC by 15 states through legislation (the National Popular Vote Bill). It ends taxes on gifts, estates, capital gains, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment. A direct popular election also ensures that citizens' votes have equal weight. It also facilitates a two-party system. The National Popular Vote (NPV) plan guarantees election of the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. the district plan pros and cons . Political Stability. 1) Amend state election laws to provide that all of a state's electoral votes are to be awarded to winner of nat'l pop vote. NPV advocates believe that those last 74 electoral votes are now within reach and hope to secure a national popular vote for the 2024 presidential election. The most recent instance in which the popular vote runner up received a majority in the electoral college occurred in 2000, when George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney were elected over Al Gore, Jr. and Joseph I. Lieberman, despite having won fewer popular votes. The electoral college leads to a heavy emphasis on swing states and also typically over-represents citizens in rural states. Pros: This idea, proposed by historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., retains the current Electoral College system, but also awards extra electoral votes as a bonus to the winner of the popular vote. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement where states in the compact award all their electoral votes to the winner of the . League of Women Voters of Colorado President Karen Sheek: "Elected officials represent all the people in a democracy, not just those in a few states. NPV advocates believe that those last 74 electoral votes are now within reach and hope to secure a national popular vote for the 2024 presidential election. 2) Enter into an interstate compact, the Agreement Among States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia ( Explanation ). This National Popular Vote Compact wouldn't take effect until states with 270 electors a majority joined in. To sidestep this difficulty, a new movement known as the National Popular Vote Plan (NPV) has sought to abolish the electoral college with-out amending the Constitution. If only the popular vote mattered, candidates might concentrate their energies on densely populated metro areas like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.Depending on your perspective, that might sound like a change for the worse. The electoral process can also create a larger mandate to give the president more credibility; for example, President Obama received 51.3% of the popular vote in 2012 but 61.7% of the electoral votes. 1. Scottish Independence: Pros and cons. April 8, 2016 National popular vote far better than Electoral College system for choosing presidents, Stanford professors say. Here are the Cons of the Electoral College. Our tax system is currently based on tax brackets: The more you make, the more you pay in taxes. By its very nature, the Electoral College system is confusing. There are plenty of both. It abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, as well as the alternative minimum tax. Advantages. I have written at length elsewhere about the problems with the NPVC. The Electoral College distorts presidential campaigns . The NPV plan is a state statute in the form of an interstate compact. In 2016 swing states were key to Donald Trump's unexpected victory against Hillary Clinton. The National Popular Vote plan has bipartisan support and has been introduced in all 50 state legislatures. Five other island-wide votes were held between 1993 and 2020. The National Popular Vote Initiative (NPV) Congressional Research Service 2 Proponents of the National Popular Vote initiative contend that their plan will achieve direct popular election while circumventing the requirements of Article V, and will guarantee that the popular vote winners will always be elected President and Vice President. After evaluating the pros and cons of the current winner-take-all approach, I moved toward a position of support of . National Bonus Plan: This idea, proposed by historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., retains the current Electoral College system, but also awards extra electoral votes as a bonus to the winner of the popular vote. First it would be relatively easy to implement. The national bonus plan was first brought up in 1978 by the 20th Century Fund Task Force. NCSL Elections Team, 303-364-7700. Summary. The allotment of the extra votes would almost always ensure that the person who wins the popular vote would also win the Electoral College. The amount suggested by Schlesinger in his National Bonus Plan is 102 extra electoral votes (two for every state and two for Washington, DC). Currently, 48 of the 50 states follow the winner-take-all rule. The 102 extra electoral votes are calculated from allotting two votes for every state and for Washington, D.C. The National Popular Vote plan would eliminate what critics of the Electoral College system point to as the "winner-take-all" rule - the awarding all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in that state. The small states will be totally neglectedunneeded . The Task Force included Richard Rovere, Jules Witcover, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Stephen Hess, Patrick Caddell, Thomas Cronin, John Sears. Electoral reform efforts often reflect the political anxieties of the time. Under the NPV, states pass laws award-ing their votes in the electoral college to the winner of the national popu-1. Most Early College High School programs are offered in conjunction with local public school districts. The state's remaining two electoral votes are typically awarded to the statewide winner. Colorado is on the verge of joining a nationwide movement that could eventually change how we choose the next president of the United States. The congressional-district method . National Popular Vote compact pros and cons. It needs an additional 75 electoral votes to go into effect. Pros and cons of chronic care management Such a program, like most others, has its share of advantages and disadvantages. There are a number of pros for this method. Like the Electoral College, the NPVIC is a subject of much debate. List of the Pros of ECHS. Gauging from the recent momentum, lawmakers across the country have come to see that it might finally be possible to reform the outmoded, undemocratic Electoral College. Even though Maine and Nebraska don't use a winner-take-all system, it is rare for either state to have a split vote. It would reduce the threshold necessary to win the office. So you run a campaign designed to maximize your votes in those few largest states. In 2004, for example, candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry campaigned heavily in states such as . But, I was curious enough to read the legislation, re-read the Constitution, and re-read some relevant Federalist Papers. Moreover, voters (7:29) Famous quotes containing the words district and/or method: " Most works of art, like most wines, ought to be consumed in the district of their fabrication. The 2000 election outcome hinged on the State of Florida, where popular vote totals were First of all, the New Jersey Plan will make every state equal, despite their size or population. Only Nebraska and Maine do not. Activating the National Popular Vote compact would reshape our . t. e. The United States Electoral College is the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of appointing the president and vice president.