Essay Contest Winners
 Michael
Massman
Rockhurst
High School
"Should the Electoral College Be Abolished?"
In more than two centuries, Congress has entertained over 700 proposals to
reform or eliminate the Electoral College. That none have passed indicates the
institution’s necessity. While opponents argue that the system undermines
democracy, it is in defending the integrity of our democratic republic that the
College proves invaluable. Rather than allowing candidates to accumulate
supermajorities in homogeneous regions, the College forces hopefuls to develop
platforms diverse and inclusive enough to win majorities nationwide. With
broader national appeal, presidents assume office with greater measures of
legitimacy than would candidates who derive support from select regions or
cities. By ensuring that citizens in sparsely populated areas have a meaningful
say, the College protects the minority voice and validates James Madison’s
theory from Federalist No. 10 regarding minority rights in large republics.
Out of 57 elections, only four have seen the ultimate President not win both
electoral and popular pluralities. Among these, only 1876 had a candidate win a
popular majority. By providing decisive conclusions between two major parties,
the College prevents additional parties from splitting pluralities into smaller
factions and causing gridlock. While the 2000 election saw partisan-fueled
rancor, the College confined recounts to one state.
The Framers intended the College to protect against manipulation of public
opinion, as well as to reinforce the federalist ideal by giving individual
states, not the national government, the right to conduct elections and award
electors. By defending the integrity and legitimacy of the Presidency and
federalism, the Electoral College is essential to America.
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