Each time we elect a President of the United States, at least in recent years, there is a conversation about the Electoral College and how we should do away with this relic of the past. After all, in this day of computers and high speed communications we are certainly able to compile and certify the popular vote of our many States and don’t we want the People to elect their President? Wouldn’t it be better if we let the People elect their President directly? Let’s have a look.
In Federalist Paper No. 68, Alexander Hamilton discusses the reasons for the Electoral College. Remember that the Revolutionary war was still a recent memory and there had been a lot of foreign involvement in the war so protecting the integrity of the election of our President was of prime importance. Hamilton writes, “Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue, and corruption. These most deadly adversaries of republican government might naturally have been expected to make their approaches from more than one quarter, but chiefly from the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.”
Since the electors were to be chosen each time there was an election, there would be little opportunity to improperly influence their vote. Further, by establishing the number of electors according to the number of Senators and Representatives apportioned to each State, the legislative apportionment would be maintained. This was important because the popular vote would favor States with greater population and large cities.
Our current Presidential elections are probably not so likely to be influenced by foreign powers though it is not hard to imagine foreign monies being contributed to the Political Action Committees that are so popular today. The real dangers now come from the ideological factions that drive politics in America. Chief among these are the two main political parties – the Democrats and the Republicans. And, we shouldn’t lose sight of the vulnerability of our communication systems to hacking.
The founding fathers showed us their wisdom when they came up with the Electoral College and that design has stood the test of time. Alexander Hamilton said it best in Federalist Paper No. 68 when he wrote, “I venture somewhat further, and hesitate not to affirm, that if the manner of it be not perfect, it is at least excellent.”
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