Why is Pres. election the only race not decided by popular vote?

[bigwillq]

Or are there other races determined by something similar to the Electoral college?

Why is our highest office not decided by the people?
Things that make you go hmmmm....

[sangh0]

1. I think it's a little thing

known as "The Constitution"

[bigwillq]

4. Just cause it's in the Constitution

doesn't mean it's right. To me, that's one thing I don't agree with. Don't know if I ever will.

[sangh0]

8. No, but it means it's the law

.

[bigwillq]

9. I know, I know

The rain has fallen on my parade! Boo-Hoo!!!!

[bigwillq]

7. Ok so I don't sound like a total moran, I know

why the Pres. election is determined using the Electoral college but the "WHY" in my thread eludes to the errors that may occur like in 2000. Why do we still use this system and why shouldn't the people just decide by the popular vote, I guess is more in the way of the answers I want.

[robcon]

2. Read the Federalist papers

and find out why.

[roguevalley]

3. because the electoral college was created by the founders to make

sure a rabble wouldn't take over a presidential election.
Like 2000 in Florida. ;)

[bigwillq]

5. If they only knew

Even before 2000, I still don't think that system makes much sense. Why not just let the people of America decide one clear winner.

But I guess the REPUKES wouldn't like it this way. Remember Bush never won a People's Choice Award (well, I guess in Texas but....)

[ACK]

6. Founding Fathers did not trust the common people

To make such an important decision.

Things have gotten better though the electors use to be assigned by the state legislatures I believe kind of like the Senate was back in the day.

Alexander Hamilton was always the one usually pointed out as deathly afraid of the tyranny of the rabble masses.

[Gothmog]

10. The Senate used to be elected by State legislatures

The Constitution has evolved. The Senate used to be elected by the state legislatures but over the years, direct votes became the norm.

The electoral colleges actually discriminates against voters in the larger states in that their votes are in effect worth less than a vote in Wyoming or S. Dakota.

[bigwillq]

13. So why not just have a popular vote?

When I first learned about the EC I thought it was used to help the smaller states but with your claim that it actually hurts the larger states, why not let the popular vote rule?

For discussion purposes only, I know they will never change the EC!

[Bombtrack]

11. Because the presidential election is the great comprimise

between state and federal power. Without the electoral college, both states and parts of states with smaller populations and spread out/rural populations would be ignored. All the campaigning would be done in the biggest metro areas such as NY, LA, Chicago, Philidelphia, Houston etc.

[James T. Kirk]

15. Bingo!

I agree with Bombtrack's answer.

The electoral college also has the effect of compartmentalizing extreme results. Suppose for example, there was massive vote fraud in, let's say, Idaho. Even if they somehow "found" an extra million votes from dead people, pets and invisible friends, it would not throw the national election too far out of whack.

[bigwillq]

16. OK, a valid reason to keep the EC

Because the candidate who won Idaho b/c of all those other 'votes' would still only get the # of EC votes for that state. Thanks for participating in my little thread!

[SheilaT]

12. Until 1913 Senators were elected

by their state legislatures.

The Founding Fathers didn't have quite the same rosy-eyed view of the common man as capable of electing his leaders as we do.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Senators were not elected by popular vote until 1913

[Hippo_Tron]

17. I think the electoral college will help us greatly this election

If things were just decided by popular vote then Diebold could just increase chimps numbers slightly all over the country to win him the election and the increases would be so small that nobody would notice.

[bigwillq]

18. Another good reason to keep the EC (nt)

[scarface2004]

19. that s a damn good question!!

the constitution, which never will, needs to be changed on this. i live in texas in a congressional district that doesnt even have a dem on the ticket.

[bigwillq]

20. I always had reservations about the EC

but some people here have real valid points as to why we should keep it. The reason I started this thread was to get an idea of what other people think on this subject.

BTW, congrats on 400 posts!

[napi21]

21. It was created to give standing to the small rural states!

It was established when travel was quite difficult and they wanted to make sure a Presidential candidate didn't only go to the BIG populations states and totaly ignore the sparsely populated rural ones.

Even though today, travel is not a problem, they could still only pay attention to the North East and West Coast and all those states in the middle would have no say.