The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on July 29, 2022 voted that there is a need to improve the Electoral College instead of abolishing it. There have been arguments that this electoral system fails to take into consideration views of the majority in the country. As such, it is common to find cases where the person who is defeated by the majority votes wins the election because they have the right number of the Electoral College (The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board, 2022). A good example was the case when President Trump was declared the winner of the Electoral College while Secretary Hillary Clinton won the popular votes. These editors believe that the current system has some weaknesses that needs to be addressed. However, the Electoral College is uniquely American, and if improvements are made to limit cases such as the one discussed above, it remains one of the best in the world.
The point expressed in this editorial is that although the Electoral College has some weaknesses, it should not be eliminated. They hold a conservative view that the system can be improved instead of being abolished. The conservative perspective is based on the view that individual votes of Americans still matter in determining the presidency. I support views presented in this editorial about the Electoral College in the United States. I believe that this system entrenches the fact that every state in the country is semi-autonomous and when an individual wins the majority of votes in that state, they should be granted all the votes there. I also agree with the fact that some changes are needed to ensure that individual votes count to reflect our social values.
The Honolulu Civil Beat Editorial published a report on September 25, 2022 supporting a total ban on Electoral College. They argue that a single vote cast for a given presidential candidate should count on determining who wins the election (The Honolulu Civil Beat Editorial, 2022). The editors cite several cases where the unpopular candidate won the presidency because of the current system. As the leading democracy, they argue that the United States should provide an example that a country’s leadership should be defined by the vote cast by citizens. They believe that the current system makes the electoral system complex for no good reason. The simplest solution to the current problem is to adopt the popular vote system.
The editors’ point of view is that the Electoral College is a complex system of electing president, and as such, they oppose its use. They take a liberal role of completely abolishing the system and replacing it with one that is fair and easy to understand. The view is classified as liberal because it requires a radical change from the current system which is in use. I believe that these editors have a justifiable reason to demand for a radical change of the current electoral system in the country. A significant number of people in the country believes that this system denies them the opportunity to directly elect their desired president, and that the power is handed over to an Electoral College. Instead of completely abolishing the system, I believe that it can be improved. The electoral system reflects the unique socio-cultural values of the United States, and if these weaknesses are addressed, it will remain an effective electoral system.
References
Honolulu Civil Beat Editorial. (2022). Let’s dump the Electoral College. Civil Beat. Web.
Houston Chronicle Editorial Board. (2022). If we can’t kill Electoral College, let’s improve it. Houston Chronicle. Web.