Should the way in which the President is elected in the U.S. be changed? Why or why not?
How the U.S. President is elected should/should not be changed because ____ and ____. For example, _____. This means _____. The Electoral College _____.
How the U.S. President is elected should be changed because the current system has several flaws and can undermine the principle of democracy. Firstly, the Electoral College can result in the winner of the popular vote not being elected as president, as seen in the 2000 and 2016 elections. This discrepancy between the popular vote and the electoral vote diminishes the trust people have in the fairness of the election process.
Additionally, the Electoral College system gives an unequal weight to the votes of citizens in different states. States with smaller populations have a disproportionately larger influence in the election, as each state is allocated a minimum of three electoral votes, regardless of its population size. This disparity goes against the principle of "one person, one vote" and can lead to the preferences of a majority of the population being overridden.
Changing the system to a popular vote or a proportional representation system would ensure that every vote carries equal weight, increasing the legitimacy and fairness of the elections. It would remove the possibility of a candidate winning the presidency without winning the majority of the popular vote.
Furthermore, a change in the election process could increase voter turnout. Currently, several states are considered "safe" for one political party or the other, causing many voters to feel their vote does not count. This can lead to voter apathy and disengagement from the political process. Implementing a popular vote system would create a more inclusive electoral process, where candidates would have to appeal to voters across all states, encouraging more people to participate in elections.
In conclusion, the way the U.S. President is elected should be changed to ensure a fairer and more democratic process. Replacing the Electoral College with a popular vote system would promote equal representation, increase voter engagement, and strengthen the credibility of the election outcomes.