| Some people have argued that the United States should adopt a system based purely on the popular vote. There would be no more electoral college, and whoever won the election based on how many people voted for them would become the president.
This system sounds fair, and would give many people what they desire, a real voice in an election. But despite its promises, it does present some problems.
A popular vote takes away from the role states play in an election, something seen as important because the United States is a federation of states rather than one central government. Also, it is more difficult to guarantee that a candidate receive at least 50 percent of the vote, which is required to win. A popular vote gives more power to third parties and makes our government less stable and open to radical movements that don’t hold a majority appeal. Overall, it is too simple a method to maintain a stable government. |