On November 5, Americans will vote for their next President in the 2024 election, with former President Donald Trump and Vice
President Kamala Harris as the primary contenders. Although American citizens cast their votes in a popular election, the U.S.
Constitution specifies that the President is chosen by the Electoral College.
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is an indirect system for electing the President and Vice President of the United States. It includes three main steps:
- Selection of Electors: States hold elections to select electors.
- Electoral Voting: Electors cast their votes for President and Vice President.
- Congressional Count: Congress counts these votes to determine the winner.
Historical Context and Purpose
- Founders’ Debate: The founding fathers debated two methods for electing the President
- Congressional Election: The President would be chosen by Congress, similar to a parliamentary
system. - Direct Popular Vote: This would avoid collusion but might give more power to larger, populous states.
- Compromise: The Electoral College was created to balance state influence and prevent centralization by giving less populous states a say in the election.
Structure of the Electoral College
- Total Electors: 538, with a majority of 270 needed to win.
- Elector Distribution: Each state’s number of electors equals its congressional delegation (House members + two Senators).
- For instance, California, the largest state, has 54 electors, while smaller states like Alaska and Vermont have only three.
- Elector Selection: Political parties in each state select electors who are often party loyalists.
Electing the Electors
- Winner-Takes-All: Most states award all electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state.
- Exceptions: Maine and Nebraska allocate electoral votes based on congressional district victories.
Electors’ Role in Voting
- Meeting and Voting: Electors convene in December to vote for the President and Vice President.
- Faithless Electors: While electors usually vote according to their party’s candidate, federal law doesn’t require it,
though some states have laws enforcing elector loyalty.
Arguments For and Against the Electoral College
- Founders’ Vision: The Electoral College was intended to ensure that only qualified candidates could become
President. - Nationwide Representation: It promotes a more even distribution of support, preventing a few populous
regions from dominating elections.
Criticisms
- Vote Disparity: Voters in large states may feel underrepresented, as individual votes have less influence than
in smaller states. - Swing State Focus: Candidates tend to prioritize swing states, leaving other states with limited attention.
- Faithless Electors: The intended role of electors as independent decision-makers is largely diminished by
party allegiance.
Conclusion
The Electoral College continues to provoke debate over its modern relevance, with some calling for reform in favor of direct elections.
Comparing India’s Electoral College
- Constitutional Basis: The Electoral College for the President of India is defined in Article 54 of the Indian Constitution, upholding
federal balance by ensuring both Union and state representation. - Composition Members: The Electoral College includes elected members of Parliament (MPs) and Legislative Assemblies
(MLAs) of states and Union Territories with legislatures. - Voting Method Single Transferable Vote (STV): Each elector ranks candidates by preference.
- Secret Ballot: Ensures voting confidentiality.
Election Process
- Absolute Majority: A candidate needs over 50% of votes to win.
- Vote Transfer: If no candidate achieves this in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on preferences. This process repeats until one candidate secures the majority.
Significance
This system is designed to reflect India’s democratic and federal principles, ensuring that the President represents the broader population across diverse states and territories.