Students of US politics will be all too aware of the arguments in favour of abolishing the Electoral College. The system for electing US presidents and vice presidents has many recognisable flaws: the lack of proportionality, a generous over-representation of the smaller states with Electoral College votes, lack of opportunity for minor parties and the funnelling of candidates’ time and resources primarily to swing states. The possibility of viable alternatives to the Electoral College means that discussion about its abolition returns frequently to political debate.
Debate alone though is insufficient. Recent elections have urgently demonstrated the lack of viability of the Electoral College. Alongside the aforementioned criticisms of the Electoral College, it is the possibility of a candidate winning the election but losing the popular vote which looms largest over US democracy. As two of the last five elections have seen the loser win, it is clear that it is now time to abolish the Electoral College.
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