Should the president be elected through a popular vote? The Electoral College in the United States states that electing the president based on popular vote results in the candidate with the most votes from voters becoming president. This method is simple and allows all voters to understand how their vote affects the election process. It also ensures equal opportunities for candidates from both parties to be elected based on popular support.
Although many states prefer using popular votes to ensure equal voting opportunities, supporters of the Electoral College argue that it preserves federalism and encourages candidates to form national coalitions. They believe that this system reduces voter fraud by awarding all of a state's votes to the candidate who wins the majority within that state, thereby eliminating manipulation as the number of voters is known and any fraudulent activity can be easily detected.
In contr
...ast, the popular voting system is seen as a direct approach to determining a country's president. In this system, all votes won in each state are tallied together to determine the final result.
Varying opinions exist regarding the reduction of voter fraud and irregularities related to voting in the United States. The implementation of record-keeping on all vote summations is believed to contribute to decreased occurrences, which significantly minimizes the likelihood of post-election petitions and dissatisfaction among candidates (See, 2008). Consequently, the issue of voter fraud is expected to be alleviated.
However, critics argue that this system prevents the election of third-party presidential candidates.
Political analysts nationwide assert that the popular vote system in the United States hinders the success of any presidential candidate representing a third party. I concur with this perspective as many aspiring
third-party candidates dreamt of securing the presidential position in the United States but their chances are hindered due to limited recognition across the nation. Consequently, these candidates' lack of popularity in various states results in their failure to secure electoral votes, thus preventing them from winning any election except for the two major parties: Democrats and Republicans (Belenky, 2012).
The lack of consistent addressing in the currently used system hinders third-party presidential candidates from having a chance at becoming the president of the United States. Their unpopularity among voters makes it highly unlikely for them to win any election throughout U.S. history.
Is this issue deserving attention?
In my opinion, yes, it is a significant problem as it denies many third-party candidates equal rights during the election process. The dominance of two well-known parties creates an imbalance on the playing field for all candidates. It is extremely challenging for a third party to emerge and present a presidential candidate, not only in the United States but also in any country with an electoral system. This unfairness and lack of equality impede true competitive democracy.
Despite being called democracy by many voters, third party presidential candidates face obstacles that can impede their chances of winning in the popular voting system in the country (See, 2008).
References
- Belenky, A. S. (2012). Understanding the basics of the U.S. presidential election system. Heidelberg: Springer.
