In response to your recent statement calling for the abolition of the Electoral College system, it is essential to have a thoughtful, open, and honest dialogue about the presidential election system and what it truly means to ensure that every vote in every state matters. While you and many other Democrats have expressed dissatisfaction with the current system, suggesting that it no longer serves our democracy, we must pause to consider the implications of such a drastic change. It should also be noted that your running mate Vice President Kamala Harris has rejected your call to abolish the Electoral College, as have many other Democrats around the country.
The argument that the Electoral College system should “go” is often rooted in a frustration that it does not always align with the national popular vote. However, the Electoral College is a fundamental pillar of our federal system, designed to balance power between states of varying sizes and populations. It ensures that every state, regardless of its size, has a voice in selecting our nation’s president. Without it, the election process risks becoming disproportionately influenced by large urban centers, leaving rural and smaller states underrepresented. This dynamic would diminish the principle of equality among states, which is as foundational to our republic as the principle of “one person, one vote.”
Rather than dismantling a system that has served this country for centuries, we should be engaging in a deeper conversation about how we can ensure every vote is counted, respected, and matters. This includes discussing reforms that do not compromise the integrity of the Electoral College but enhance our democracy’s responsiveness to voters.
One of the key criticisms of the Electoral College is that it discourages voter engagement in non-swing states. It is time to study ways we can increase engagement across all states. Could we improve voter education about the system and its importance? Should we look at moving away from “winner take all” to ensure more proportional distribution of electors in states, as some already do, to make the system more reflective of the diverse political will across regions? These are the kinds of reforms worth exploring.
The call for abolition lacks a comprehensive alternative that safeguards the voices of all states. The discussion should not be about abandoning the Electoral College altogether but about how we can fine-tune it to better represent our modern electorate without compromising the protections it provides to smaller states and regions.
I hope Democrats can engage in an open and honest dialogue about the Electoral College, keeping the spirit of balance and fairness at the forefront of our discussions. We must not act hastily to dismantle a system before considering how its removal could harm the very people we seek to empower—voters in every corner of this nation.
Featured image by Gage Skidmore