Direct Elect
By Ed Davis
Posted on Sat Sep 24, 2005 at 03:34:25 PM EST
We've all spent a lot of time complaining about how we vote and whether our vote is counted accurately and how voter suppression efforts have kept many potential voters away from the polls. There remains a lot of work to be done.
What about the Electoral College? In my view, an archaic and undemocratic institution that should be abolished and replaced with direct election of the president. Common Cause has a long-held position in favor of direct election of the president. But, over the years, efforts to amend the Constitution have failed. There are some intriguing new proposals to get to direct election - we're looking at alternatives to a constitutional amendment.
Opposition to direct elections has come from small states who believe they benefit from the Electoral College system; from traditionalists; from some minority groups who believe the system helps overcome somewhat their historical disadvantage. But most of all, those who support direct election simply don't believe it will happen.
We're interested in your comments and perspsective.
Tags: Action for Elections (all tags)
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