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Pros And Cons Of The Electoral College

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The Electoral College is a controversial voting system that has been part of the United States election process since it’s very beginning. Created during the constitutional convention of 1787, the Electoral College was intended to increase the voting power of states with a low population. A solely popular vote was thought to ignore the minority of smaller states (Jost and Giroux). In response, the electoral college would involve a group of elected state representatives that would decrease the influence of populous states over smaller states. This system is still implemented today and continues to hold similar workings to that of the past. The number of electors granted to each state is the sum of senators and House representatives for that state (Jost and Giroux). Only senators, representatives, and anyone holding an office of trust or profit are prohibited from becoming electors. On election day, US citizens vote for their Electoral College representatives, and those chosen become leading players in the presidential election. This system settled disputes between states in the past and has survived for over two centuries; however, some critics now find the system to be flawed and out of date (Jost & Giroux).
The purpose of the electoral college is to elect the president and vice president of the United States of America. Out of the 538 electoral votes, a 270 majority is needed for one to achieve the presidency. The electoral and popular majority are independent from one

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