• Latest
  • Trending

No matter who wins, it’s time to get rid of the electoral college

November 4, 2020
Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 82 sheds

June 28, 2022
Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

Lanka IOC restricts sale of Petrol: Limits announced

June 28, 2022
People play rugby at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. [Loren Elliott/ Reuters]

Australia census: Five ways the country is changing

June 28, 2022
Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

June 28, 2022
Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

June 28, 2022
Electricity

Power cut schedule for June 28 in Sri Lanka

June 28, 2022
Russia default

Russia defaults on foreign debt for first time in a century

June 28, 2022
Passengers wait on the platform. The wait may be long. Photo: Tang Lu/Xinhua

Adequate SLTB buses and trains will operate as per schedule

June 28, 2022
Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 116 sheds

June 27, 2022
President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

June 27, 2022
Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

June 27, 2022
Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

June 27, 2022
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 82 sheds

    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC restricts sale of Petrol: Limits announced

    Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

    Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for June 28 in Sri Lanka

    Passengers wait on the platform. The wait may be long. Photo: Tang Lu/Xinhua

    Adequate SLTB buses and trains will operate as per schedule

    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 116 sheds

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

    Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

    Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

    Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    People play rugby at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. [Loren Elliott/ Reuters]

    Australia census: Five ways the country is changing

    Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

    Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

    Russia default

    Russia defaults on foreign debt for first time in a century

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?

    Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?

    Money

    Here’s how you can become rich by doing nothing

    Fresh transport strikes hit UK, Europe

    Fresh transport strikes hit UK, Europe

    U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion

    U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion

    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’ becomes 3rd-highest-grossing Hindi film

    Popular Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were married Thursday in a private ceremony at their Mumbai residence. Image credits - Sujit Jaswal via AFP / Getty Images

    Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt marry in Mumbai

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Will Smith

    Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years over slap

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    China finds signs of water in moon’s ‘Ocean of Storms’

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    Beetroot is rich in nitrates and is loaded with health benefits. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Drinking beetroot juice daily could help people with heart condition

    Close-up view of a cancer cell. Credit: Alexey Kotelnikov / Alamy Stock Photo

    Massive breakthrough as cancer vanishes for all patients in drug trial

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia. CDC | Getty Images

    The Covid conspiracies being recycled for monkeypox

    Exercise. Image credits - Victor Freitas @victorfreitas / Unsplash

    Best exercise time differs for men and women, says US study

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    Bitcoin slides below $20,000 to lowest level in 18 months

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Microsoft's Internet Explorer was first included with a Windows 95 upgrade pack. Image credits - Ina Fried/CNET

    End of an era: Microsoft retires Internet Explorer

    Cryptocurrency boom. Image credits - Executium @executium / Unsplash

    Cryptocurrency market value slumps under $1 trillion

    iPhone. Image credits - Tron Le @tronle_sg / Unsplash

    EU deal to force iPhones to use USB-C charger by 2024

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp to get edit button, undo messages and other features soon 

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 82 sheds

    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC restricts sale of Petrol: Limits announced

    Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

    Sri Lanka to open fuel import, retail sales market to foreign companies

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for June 28 in Sri Lanka

    Passengers wait on the platform. The wait may be long. Photo: Tang Lu/Xinhua

    Adequate SLTB buses and trains will operate as per schedule

    Fuel. Image credits - Wassim Chouak / Unsplash

    Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 116 sheds

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

    Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

    Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

    Applications invited from Sri Lankans for Indian scholarships

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    People play rugby at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. [Loren Elliott/ Reuters]

    Australia census: Five ways the country is changing

    Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

    Monkeypox case count rises to more than 3,400 globally: WHO

    Russia default

    Russia defaults on foreign debt for first time in a century

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

    Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?

    Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?

    Money

    Here’s how you can become rich by doing nothing

    Fresh transport strikes hit UK, Europe

    Fresh transport strikes hit UK, Europe

    U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion

    U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion

    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’ becomes 3rd-highest-grossing Hindi film

    Popular Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were married Thursday in a private ceremony at their Mumbai residence. Image credits - Sujit Jaswal via AFP / Getty Images

    Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt marry in Mumbai

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Will Smith

    Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years over slap

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    China finds signs of water in moon’s ‘Ocean of Storms’

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    Beetroot is rich in nitrates and is loaded with health benefits. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Drinking beetroot juice daily could help people with heart condition

    Close-up view of a cancer cell. Credit: Alexey Kotelnikov / Alamy Stock Photo

    Massive breakthrough as cancer vanishes for all patients in drug trial

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia. CDC | Getty Images

    The Covid conspiracies being recycled for monkeypox

    Exercise. Image credits - Victor Freitas @victorfreitas / Unsplash

    Best exercise time differs for men and women, says US study

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    Bitcoin slides below $20,000 to lowest level in 18 months

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Microsoft's Internet Explorer was first included with a Windows 95 upgrade pack. Image credits - Ina Fried/CNET

    End of an era: Microsoft retires Internet Explorer

    Cryptocurrency boom. Image credits - Executium @executium / Unsplash

    Cryptocurrency market value slumps under $1 trillion

    iPhone. Image credits - Tron Le @tronle_sg / Unsplash

    EU deal to force iPhones to use USB-C charger by 2024

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp to get edit button, undo messages and other features soon 

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

No matter who wins, it’s time to get rid of the electoral college

The institution enables a tyranny of the minority, allowing political factions to entrench their rule by appealing to a small group of voters. It’s mathematically possible to win the electoral college with less than 22 percent of the popular vote, says Katrina vanden Heuvel in Washington Post

Editor by Editor
November 4, 2020
in Politics, Top Story, United States
Reading Time: 3 mins read
3 0
A A
Share on WhatsApp

By Katrina vanden Heuvel/Washington Post

November 3: Something’s happening in Texas. Before today’s election, 9.7 million Texans had already voted — 108 percent of total ballots cast there in the last presidential election. In just four years, Texas has catapulted from second-to-last in voter turnout to a national leader in early voting. This is no coincidence. Now that this once-red state is emerging as a toss-up, residents are turning out in record numbers, believing that their votes will finally have a meaningful effect on the presidential election. Though this is a tremendous success story, it also underlines one of our Constitution’s greatest failures: Under the electoral college, some votes matter far more than others.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) may have said it best: “Call me old-fashioned, but I think the person who gets the most votes should win.” The electoral college is indeed an undemocratic travesty, and no matter who wins this election, it’s time for us to move toward a national popular vote.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many electoral college advocates cite its anti-democratic nature as a benefit, explaining that the institution serves as a bulwark against the so-called “tyranny of the majority.” In reality, however, the institution enables a tyranny of the minority, allowing political factions to entrench their rule by appealing to a small group of voters. It’s mathematically possible to win the electoral college with less than 22 percent of the popular vote. That’s an extreme case, but the fact remains that, under the electoral college, a voter in Wyoming has nearly four times the power of a voter in California. By creating artificially narrow results, the electoral college makes it 40 times more likely that the results are close enough that the outcome could be swung by unelected judges. No wonder 61 percent of Americans support the electoral college’s abolition, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Likewise, consider the not-so-far-fetched scenario in which today’s election ends in a 269-269 draw. The decision then goes to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation casts one vote. In this situation, the state of North Dakota (population: 762,000) has the same influence as Texas (population: 29 million). In theory, delegations representing just 16 percent of the total U.S. population could pick the next president.

Electoral college defenders also argue that it forces candidates to forge broad coalitions and campaign everywhere. But in 2016, 94 percent of general-election campaign stops were concentrated in just 12 states, while 24 states were skipped altogether. Contrast this with gubernatorial elections, where every voter matters. Candidates have enormous incentive to visit both rural and urban communities, as when Stacey Abrams visited all 159 of Georgia’s counties during her 2018 run.

Of course, the most enduring myth about the electoral college is that it was carefully engineered by the framers of the Constitution, and therefore we shouldn’t tamper with it. In fact, in 1787 the Constitutional Convention was deadlocked: One faction wanted Congress to elect the president, and the other group pushed for direct election. To bring both sides together, James Madison proposed a compromise: a group of elite electors who would mediate the popular vote and defect if they deemed the peoples’ choice unfit for office. The framers’ original system was soon revised by the 12th Amendment, which split the voting process for president and vice president. Since then, there have been more than 700 bills and amendments offered to replace the electoral college, many passing in one house of Congress and languishing in the other.

Ditching the electoral college via constitutional amendment would be tough. But there’s another way — one that doesn’t rely on Congress or the states. It’s called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, introduced in 2006. Under the compact, states pledge to award electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. As of today, 15 states plus the District of Columbia have joined, adding up to 196 electoral votes of the 270 required for the compact to go into effect.

This compact would bring us into a new political era. A true “one person, one vote” system would finally give voters in states such as Texas a compelling reason to vote, driving up turnout. Parties would be encouraged to build infrastructure everywhere: rural communities, urban centers and everywhere in between. Importantly, it would also mark the end of minority rule — no more using stacked courts to intervene on behalf of the loser in close elections.

But the compact isn’t bulletproof. It would almost certainly face legal challenges, and even if it were to cross the 270-vote threshold, states could still pull out down the road. And federal and state legislators will undoubtedly have a long list of priorities in the new year, from covid-19 to stimulus to climate change. Yet if we want a strong, stable democracy, we need to abolish the electoral college, and that starts with completing the compact. So, after voting today comes to an end, let our work to establish a national popular vote begin.

 

Related Posts

President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka

President Joe Biden has told his officials to extend all help to Sri Lanka

June 27, 2022
Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10
Around South Asia

Lankan govt to issue fuel only to essential services from June 27 to July 10

June 27, 2022
Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?
China

Is Nepal’s geo-strategic location a bane or a boon?

June 27, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion
Around The World

U.S. Supreme Court ends constitutional right to abortion

June 26, 2022
India Strengthens Its Position in Sri Lanka Vis-à-Vis Rival China
Diplomacy

India Strengthens Its Position in Sri Lanka Vis-à-Vis Rival China

June 25, 2022
LKR 3 billion (US$ 8.3 million) worth of aid from Tamil Nadu arrives in Colombo
Diplomacy

LKR 3 billion (US$ 8.3 million) worth of aid from Tamil Nadu arrives in Colombo

June 24, 2022
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for June 28 in Sri Lanka

    43651 shares
    Share 17476 Tweet 10906
  • Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

    1180 shares
    Share 479 Tweet 292
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    784 shares
    Share 326 Tweet 191
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    736 shares
    Share 314 Tweet 176
  • Leader of Bohra community meets President

    668 shares
    Share 271 Tweet 165
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

mersin eskort -

Meritroyalbet

-
Jojobet
- Süperbetin - eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - istanbul avukat