To the Editor;
Let Every Vote Count: Abolish the Electoral College
The United States proudly declares itself a democracy, a nation founded on the belief that every person deserves a voice in government. Yet, when Americans elect their president, millions of votes can be effectively ignored, while a handful of voters in a few battleground states wield extraordinary power. This contradiction is unacceptable. The Electoral College is an outdated, undemocratic system that undermines political equality, weakens public trust, and distorts the will of the people. It is time to abolish it and replace it with a simple national popular vote.
First, every American’s vote should carry equal weight. Under the Electoral College, a vote in a competitive state can have far greater influence on the presidential outcome than a vote in a state considered safely Republican or Democratic. Consequently, candidates focus their attention, campaign resources and promises on a small number of battleground states, often neglecting millions of citizens elsewhere. Why should a voter in Pennsylvania matter more to a presidential campaign than a voter in California, Texas or Massachusetts? In a nation committed to equality, geography should never determine the value of a citizen’s voice.
Furthermore, the Electoral College can award the presidency to a candidate who receives fewer votes nationwide than an opponent. This has happened in multiple elections, including those of 2000 and 2016. When the candidate who receives fewer votes wins, Americans have every reason to question whether their government truly reflects the people’s choice.
Finally, abolishing the Electoral College would encourage candidates to compete for every American’s support, not merely chase electoral votes in a few decisive states. Every vote would contribute directly to the final result, strengthening civic participation and reinforcing the legitimacy of presidential elections.
Tradition alone is no excuse for preserving an unjust system. America has amended its Constitution before to expand democracy and correct historic wrongs. Our democracy should evolve toward greater fairness, not cling to an electoral mechanism that diminishes political equality.
The presidency belongs to the American people, not to an electoral formula. Every citizen deserves an equal voice, every vote deserves equal value, and the national majority should determine who leads the nation. Abolish the Electoral College. Let the people decide.
Eileen J. Marum
Chair, League of Women Voters SouthCoast
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