Prompt Cast
The Flaws of the Electoral College and the Need for Reform
TLDR The Electoral College, a confusing and undemocratic system, was created as a compromise but has many flaws. Over the past 200 years, there have been numerous proposals to reform or eliminate it, as the majority of people believe that the candidate with the most votes should win.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Electoral College is frequently cited as the most undemocratic aspect of our democracy, and this episode aims to explain its flaws and encourage people to vote.
04:33
The Electoral College is a confusing system that was created as a compromise between having uninformed voters and a group of elites decide the presidency, and it consists of electors who represent each state and cast their votes for the president.
08:55
The electors in the Electoral College are usually nominated by a state party committee and are typically staunch party line people who are unlikely to change their vote.
13:28
When you vote for a candidate, you are actually voting for the electors associated with that candidate, who then make the final vote in accordance with the popular vote.
18:01
The district system in Maine and Nebraska assigns electoral votes based on the winner of each congressional district, while the winner take all system in other states assigns all electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state.
22:49
In the 2000 election, Bush v. Gore, there was a lot of confusion and controversy surrounding the outcome, with the court system getting involved and issues like hanging chads and lost votes in one county.
27:36
In the 2000 election, the outcome was decided by less than 400 votes in Florida, with conflicting reports on whether Gore or Bush was the definite winner.
32:22
In the 2000 election, Al Gore, as vice president and president of the Senate, had to read his own defeated electoral college votes, leading to an awkward and emotionless moment.
37:28
Over the past 200 years, over 700 proposals have been introduced to reform or eliminate the Electoral College, with attorneys generally against it and political scientists generally in favor of it, but by and large, the people are saying they don't like this process and believe that whoever has the most votes should win.
42:19
The hosts receive an email from a fan in England expressing their love for the podcast and suggesting a special episode hosted by their wives.
Categories:
Society & Culture
