Why we still have the Electoral College?
The RadioLab podcast, The Unpopular Vote, does a exceptional job of explaining the Electoral College.
In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson urged Senator Birch Bayh to rethink how Americans elect their president. Bayh came to see the Electoral College as a "ticking time bomb" and gained widespread support for abolishing it. With Congress, presidents, and 80% of the public on his side, it seemed possible.
Yet in 2024, here we are! A few reminders & facts!
1. When you vote in a U.S. presidential election, you're not directly voting for the president but for an elector who has pledged to support the candidate with the most votes. In history, however, 156 electors have broken their pledge by not voting or by voting for someone else.
2. Although it’s never occurred, it’s mathematically possible to win the Electoral College with as little as 23% of the popular vote.
3. Five times in U.S. history, a candidate has lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College. It nearly happened twice more.
So why does the Electoral College still exist—and will it ever be abolished?
Hint the answer includes: Johnson, Nixon, Carter & Biden
- Listen to the podcast to learn more - https://radiolab.org/podcast/the-unpopular-vote
Podcasts are an amazing way to hear stories, discussions, and insights on a vast range of topics, making it easy to learn, entertain, or explore new ideas on the go. Need a recommendation or help getting started on podcasts, let's chat. 🩷
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P.S. Senator Birch Bayh is also known as the "Father of Title IX," was the key author of the 1972 legislation prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded education, greatly expanding opportunities for women in sports and academics.
P.S.S - If you are interested in learning more about the Electoral College, here are a few resources.
Alex Keyssar, Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? (https://zpr.io/kSf9uBQ7FHwa)
Frederick Williams, “The Late Senator Birch Bayh: Best Friend of Black America,” (https://zpr.io/NDiAgcK5UPhX)