@ISIDEWITHQuestionselectionsStarted 8yrs agoActive 4hrs ago

Should the electoral college be abolished?

The United States Electoral College is the mechanism established by the United States Constitution for the indirect election of the President of the United States and Vice President of the United States. Citizens of the United States vote in each state at a general election to choose a slate of “electors” pledged to vote for a party’s candidate. The Twelfth Amendment requires each elector to cast one vote for president and another vote for vice president. During the 2019 Democratic Presidential Primary 15 candidates, including Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Elisabeth Warren, called for the abolition of the electoral college.

Answer Overview

Response rates from 4.3m America voters.

43%
Yes
57%
No
33%
Yes
45%
No
7%
Yes, and switch to a representative democracy (popular vote) system
4%
No, but reform so that votes are distributed proportionally instead of the current winner take all system
3%
Yes, and switch to a ranked voting system
4%
No, but the balance of votes by population should be updated
3%
No, the electoral college ensures representation of the whole country instead of just major cities

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 4.3m America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 4.3m America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @9RXP9KX from Michigan answered…2mos2MO

No, reform each state’s model to that of Nebraska and Maine and switch from a popular choice system to a ranked choice one

 @9RQPYRF from New York answered…2mos2MO

I think voting should go into a blockchain that would decentralize and would allow transparent voting for each individual

 @8YF7YMH from Washington D.C. answered…3yrs3Y

Yes, we should have a dictatorship

 @9FG23J2 from Minnesota answered…1yr1Y

no, but the severe gerrymandering of voting districts needs to be restricted and regulated

 @8KT28Z8 from Arkansas answered…4yrs4Y

No, the electoral college is fair. Not everyone may like it, but since more of the people are in one state, it is only fair that they get more choice in the representation of the nation, and the choosing of the president. With that being said, before the electoral colleges cast their votes, they should take it upon themselves to see what the standings are, and what is best for the nation.

 @98VZGKQ from Indiana answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, but move to a ranked voting system to promote more political parties, if we're going to have them we might as well divide them into smaller parties focused on separate issues instead of two leviathans of society which only serves to polarize us.

 @9NYPPJL from California answered…4mos4MO

adopt Maine and Nebraskas unique approach where they use a proportional method to allocate their electoral votes. This method makes the electoral process in large states more inclusive and representative of the varied political spectrum within that state.

 @8RLMPBH from Connecticut answered…4yrs4Y

No, but the votes should be distributed by county rather than state

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 @The-Young-Turks submitted…1 day1D

Tim Walz RENEGES On Major Policy Issue

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…18hrs18H

Venezuela cancels passports of dozens of activists and journalists

Venezuela has cancelled the passports of dozens of journalists and activists since Nicolás Maduro claimed a re-election victory, part of what rights groups say is an intensifying campaign of repression against the authoritarian president’s opponents.At least 40 people — mostly journalists and human rights activists — have had their passports annulled without explanation, according to Caracas-based rights group Laboratorio de Paz, which warns that the number is likely to be much higher due to Venezuelans’ fear of reporting cases.Others have had their passports confiscated by authorities while attempting to board flights from the country’s main airport.“It was terrifying,” said one rights activist, whose passport was taken by authorities at the airport last week without explanation. He declined to give his name for fear of reprisals. “I knew it was a risk that I could have my passport taken or be jailed when I got to the airport, and they went with the former.”Carla, a journalist who chose not to give her surname, discovered while abroad that her passport had been cancelled.“I asked myself, ‘now where do I come from,’” said Carla, who is not sure whether she will try to return home.The cancellation of passports comes amid a wider campaign of repression in response to anti-government protests that broke out following an election verdict that has not been recognised by the Organization of American States, the US and the EU.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2 days2D

Iran Warns to U.S. Allies Don’t Help Israel, or You’re Next

Tehran is threatening in secret diplomatic backchannels to target the oil-rich Arab Gulf states and other American allies in the Middle East if their territories or airspace are used for an attack on Iran, said Arab officials.Israel has threatened Tehran with a severe reprisal after Iran fired about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month, with some Israeli officials and commentators pushing for damaging strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities or oil infrastructure. In that event, Iran has warned it would respond with devastating hits on Israel’s civilian infrastructure, and would retaliate against any Arab state that facilitated the attack, the officials said.The Arab officials said the countries that Iran has threatened include Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, all of which host U.S. troops. These states have told the Biden administration that they don’t want their military infrastructure or airspace to be used by the U.S. or Israel for any offensive operations against Iran, the officials said. While the Iranian threats are vague, they have raised concerns in energy-rich Persian Gulf states that their oil facilities—long viewed as protected by an American security umbrella—could be hit, the Arab officials said. U.S. military installations and forces in the region could also be at risk in a region with one of the highest concentrations of American troops in the world, they added.While the Iranian threats are vague, they have raised concerns in energy-rich Persian Gulf states that their oil facilities—long viewed as protected by an American security umbrella—could be hit, the Arab officials said. U.S. military installations and forces in the region could also be at risk in a region with one of the highest concentrations of American troops in the world, they added.

▲  4720 replies1 disagree