Election Question: Electoral College or Popular Vote?

by Virginia Powell

November 03, 2008

The sixth-grade social studies classes at Marshall Elementary have been studying the election process, and we have found the method of determining the winner of the U.S. presidential election to be controversial. After discussing the issue, students were asked to respond to the following question:

“Some people believe that because it is possible for a candidate to win an election without having a majority of the popular vote, the candidate should not become president (in that case). Others argue that the Electoral College is the only way the candidates and the government give fair recognition to smaller states. Can you think of a way to make both sides happy?”

Sample student responses follow:

I think both ways should count. If a candidate has more electoral votes, and the other has more popular votes, I think they should add up the two amounts from each candidate and determine how many popular and electoral votes the candidates have. The candidate with the most total votes wins.

I think the candidate with the most votes should be the president. In the Electoral College, the amount of votes you get is decided by the population of the state. So, it’s not fair to the small states. It’s like the small states have no say. If the president was decided by the most votes, it would be fair to all states, small or big.

If McCain won the election, then Obama could be McCain’s main assistant. So, if McCain needed help, he could go to Obama. They could both put ideas together. Then both parties will be happy and would both be proud of themselves. Then it won’t be such an argument between both parties.

What do you think?