Why is the Electoral College bad?

One in a series of articles. You can read the whole series here. read more

The worst thing about the Electoral College system, as it stands, is that it makes it possible (however, unlikely) for this scenario to emerge: Candidate A is massively popular, and wins approximately 70% of the popular vote nationwide, winning in 37 states. read more

That said, if there’s no majority vote in the Electoral College, then the election is settled by Congress. The House of Representatives selects the president, while the Senate is in charge of naming a vice president. read more

In advance of the 1996 and 2000 elections, Yale University Press published primers on the Electoral College by Lawrence Longley and Neal Peirce, long-time foes of the institution. Each book opened with an amusing "fantasy," portraying chaos in the aftermath of the upcoming election as a consequence of the workings of the College. read more