AP Government Argument Essay: Abolishing the Electoral College

Claim/Thesis

The Electoral College should be abolished and replaced with a national popular vote system, because the current system undermines democratic representation, gives disproportionate power to smaller states, and contradicts the principle of one person, one vote.

Evidence from Foundational Documents

Although Federalist No. 68, authored by Alexander Hamilton, supports the Electoral College by arguing that it helps prevent unqualified candidates from becoming president, this rationale no longer holds in a modern democracy with mass media and an informed electorate. Hamilton emphasized the importance of a system that would ensure the “sense of the people” is respected.

Ironically, the Electoral College now frequently produces results that do not reflect the national popular vote — as seen in the 2000 and 2016 elections.

Constitutional Principles

The Constitution is based on the principles of republicanism and popular sovereignty. While the Founders created a system of indirect representation, the expansion of suffrage and democratization of institutions since the 18th century has made the idea of a national popular vote more consistent with modern interpretations of democratic governance. The “one person, one vote” principle, established in Reynolds v. Sims (1964), supports the idea that each vote should carry equal weight, which is currently not the case under the Electoral College.

Real-World Example

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes than Donald Trump, yet lost the presidency due to the Electoral College. Voters in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin had a significantly greater impact on the outcome than those in reliably red or blue states. This system encourages presidential candidates to focus disproportionately on a handful of battleground states, ignoring millions of voters in other parts of the country.

Counterargument and Rebuttal

Opponents argue that the Electoral College protects the interests of smaller states and prevents urban areas from dominating elections. While this concern is valid, the solution should not come at the cost of equal representation. A national popular vote would treat every citizen’s vote equally, regardless of geography. Moreover, urban areas already contain diverse populations and do not vote monolithically. Under a popular vote system, candidates would have an incentive to campaign across the entire country, including both rural and urban areas, rather than focusing on a few key states.

Conclusion

In a truly representative democracy, the will of the majority must be respected. The Electoral College is an outdated mechanism that distorts democratic outcomes and creates unequal political influence across states. Replacing it with a national popular vote would ensure fairness, enhance political participation, and better reflect the foundational principle of popular sovereignty.

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