The Electoral College: Simplified

Joel Manzer
Nov 5 · 4 min read

Today is Election Day here in the United States. Stating that ages this article and puts into a place where it may decay and die. But it’s not a Presidential Election year, so it allows us a little time to dwell on this topic some…

In our constitution, there is an article that was written over 200 years ago that our Founding Fathers wrote that required several months of debate and struggle. This was the article that set the foundation of how we elect our President.

Many want to abolish the electoral college because they believe it is antiquated as it may abolish the popular vote.

The subject of abolishing the electoral college typically happens when a President is elected, and not by the ‘popular vote’. As a result, this debate has been started on both sides of the political aisle.

Regardless of what one’s political leanings are toward, I believe there is a problem with understanding the Electoral College, as we need the remind ourselves that the Electoral College IS about the popular vote. Before we all go crazy, let me simplify the process and start what I’m about to say with this phrase: The Electoral College is about States Rights.

When I was a child and was watching the elections in the early 80s with my Mom, I didn’t understand the Red States/Blue States on the map when the news on TV was going over election results. I also didn’t understand the Electoral college system… at all.

So, when a President was elected, and it wasn’t by ‘popular vote’ — I became very frustrated. After all, wasn’t the election results of our President determined by popular vote? Well, yes… and no.

I could go into a deep dive here as to the electoral college process, and how the individuals are selected, etc… but I’ll keep this simple…

  • The number of electors IS based on population per capita within each state.
  • When we Vote, we are voting for the Electors, who in-turn cast their vote based on the popular vote of that state. This is what they pledged to do.
  • Historically in our history Electors have voted 99% of the time with the popular vote within their state.

What the Electoral College system does by design is give each Free and Independent State an Equal vote in determining who wins the Presidential Election.

Some think it’s an antiquated system and believe that it’s because our Founding Fathers thought the general public lacked the education, so more educated individuals would vote with a more educated mind. Although that may be true, I consider that short-sighted in logic.

It’s about the numbers, but not the way we always thought it to be.

Remember that each state in our nation has its own government. There are 50 Free and Independent states who have decided to subject themselves to Federal Rule. But some states are smaller in stature than others. Some have more people per capita than others. Remember that it’s the states that actually vote for who wins the election, and the electoral college is the means by which this happens.

It’s all in the Math… and it ain’t that complicated…(no formulas required here)…

Let’s take the number of electors of each state. As stated before, the number of electors is based on the population per capita of that state. This does several things within a specific state, but one thing in particular — it weighs out the vote in that state based on popular vote…. and the winner of that state is declared. This plays out in every state, and the person with the most states wins.

But by having the required number of votes required to win, the electoral college process gives each state an equal vote. This means that Hawaii and Rhode Island have the same equal vote as California or New York, which are larger and more popular states.

So, when we go to Elect the President of the United States, you are telling your State who to vote for… which goes back to what the numbers and the process of the Electoral College is about… States Rights.

Now, as we go into this next year, know that your vote still matters. By casting your vote you are letting your electorate know where you would like their vote to be cast. Your vote is pooled with millions of others in your state stating their case. Then the electorate takes the results and casts their vote (typically according to the popular vote) for who their state wants as President.

This should serve as a reminder of several facts, but one simple one… your local vote matters.

Over the years we have placed a heavy burden on our Federal government and demand so much of our Federal representatives. I submit that the Electoral College reminds us of the importance of our State and Local Governments.

So by all means, get involved, but know the value as to why this system has worked for us rather than against us.

Joel Manzer

Written by

Husband | Father | Founding Lead Editor of @Autisable | I do better things when #coffee is added. #stayawesome #autism #marketing

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