Electoral college

[jim]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

[Popeye_Card]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

I don't mind it, but I think it needs to be tweaked.

i.e., States still get electoral votes, but they should be split within a state. So if Florida has 27 electoral votes (or whatever they have), and Bush gets 51% and Gore gets 49%, then Bush should get 14 to Gore's 13, instead of Bush getting all 27. If a candidate gets 75% of a state, he should get 75% of the electoral votes.

A couple states already do this (I think Colorado is one). I think it's more "democratic" if they all did.

[Radio_Bugtussle]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

I don't mind it, but I think it needs to be tweaked.

i.e., States still get electoral votes, but they should be split within a state. So if Florida has 27 electoral votes (or whatever they have), and Bush gets 51% and Gore gets 49%, then Bush should get 14 to Gore's 13, instead of Bush getting all 27. If a candidate gets 75% of a state, he should get 75% of the electoral votes.

A couple states already do this (I think Colorado is one). I think it's more "democratic" if they all did.

Go by congressional district. At this point, the Dems might freak out about that because it puts several electoral votes in Illinois (for example) in play for the Republicans.

[Leroy]

I couldn't get in.

[sighyoung]

I couldn't get in.

You need a pulse.

[Swatcat27]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

I don't mind it, but I think it needs to be tweaked.

i.e., States still get electoral votes, but they should be split within a state. So if Florida has 27 electoral votes (or whatever they have), and Bush gets 51% and Gore gets 49%, then Bush should get 14 to Gore's 13, instead of Bush getting all 27. If a candidate gets 75% of a state, he should get 75% of the electoral votes.

A couple states already do this (I think Colorado is one). I think it's more "democratic" if they all did.

Perfectly makes sense.
Going one step further to what Popeye just said...let's say if a state has 20 votes, there should be 20 electoral locations. Winner takes the location & it adds up nation wide.
Lets say in SC where there is majority African American population, there could still be pockets which could vote the other way & if they fall/sway into a common electoral location, the equation could change. In most cases, the race is very close & this could be very decisive.

[Fat Strat]

I'm a fan. I would like to see more power given back to the states and less federal control over a lot of things.

[Popeye_Card]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

I don't mind it, but I think it needs to be tweaked.

i.e., States still get electoral votes, but they should be split within a state. So if Florida has 27 electoral votes (or whatever they have), and Bush gets 51% and Gore gets 49%, then Bush should get 14 to Gore's 13, instead of Bush getting all 27. If a candidate gets 75% of a state, he should get 75% of the electoral votes.

A couple states already do this (I think Colorado is one). I think it's more "democratic" if they all did.

Go by congressional district. At this point, the Dems might freak out about that because it puts several electoral votes in Illinois (for example) in play for the Republicans.

I'd be fine with that. It more closely resembles a "popular vote".

I just don't like that somebody can win California by a few percentage points, but that's a HUGE swing in electoral votes. Or the case we had in Florida in 2000.

[jim]

I think the electoral college is as relevant and important today as ever. I might be in the minority, but I would be scared if it went away.

I don't mind it, but I think it needs to be tweaked.

i.e., States still get electoral votes, but they should be split within a state. So if Florida has 27 electoral votes (or whatever they have), and Bush gets 51% and Gore gets 49%, then Bush should get 14 to Gore's 13, instead of Bush getting all 27. If a candidate gets 75% of a state, he should get 75% of the electoral votes.

A couple states already do this (I think Colorado is one). I think it's more "democratic" if they all did.

Go by congressional district. At this point, the Dems might freak out about that because it puts several electoral votes in Illinois (for example) in play for the Republicans.

I'd be fine with that. It more closely resembles a "popular vote".

I just don't like that somebody can win California by a few percentage points, but that's a HUGE swing in electoral votes. Or the case we had in Florida in 2000.

Kind of defeats the purpose of it.

[Popeye_Card]

Kind of defeats the purpose of it.

Sort-of. There's still larger swings than a straight popular vote. 1 percentage point difference could mean 1 extra electoral vote from that state--and if a state only has 5 votes, winning 3-2 is a pretty nice swing.

I personally think it's the best way. The electoral college as currently constructed, I don't really care for. I don't think it accurately represents the nation's interests--more the interests of the slight majority in the most populous states. I know that it generally follows the popular vote, but I still don't care for it.