As I've mentioned on here before, I'm no fan of the Electoral College (and not just because of this year's result)... but, honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the Presidential election process at all.
So, spit balling some ideas (knowing it's easier to throw shit to the wall and see what sticks than to actually implement changes that don't dismantle the entire country), I put together a short list of some changes I'd be in favor of.
*Ditch the electoral college. One person = one vote.
*Initiate ranked-choice voting.
*Standardize ballot access for federal positions across all states, including a threshold where any candidate that achieves ballot access in, say, 2/3rds of states is automatically granted access in the remaining states.
*No 'grandfathering' of candidates or parties onto the ballot. If Vermin Supreme has to collect 20,000 signatures, so does Trump and Clinton.
*Remove party affiliations from the ballot.
*Remove tax dollars from the primary process.
Curious, what other ideas are worth considering?
#3
Posted 21 November 2016 - 04:27 AM
If you eliminate electoral college, then CA and NY will always choose the president. What about electoral college by districts (with the states' votes divided that way)?
As is, a few swing states virtually choose the president.
If we went with electoral college via districts, then candidates would focus on states with the most swing districts.
This is why I think getting rid of the Electoral College would only work with a ranked voice voting change. If a candidate ignores part of the country, a secondary candidate could still take first in the smaller states and second in the larger states, winning enough of the vote to take the election.
#4
Occam's Shank
Posted 21 November 2016 - 11:27 AM
If you eliminate electoral college, then CA and NY will always choose the president. What about electoral college by districts (with the states' votes divided that way)?
I am from a family of going on 5 generations of New Yorkers , my great grandfather served in WWI every generation so far has made a tradition of service and decency. Why should our votes count for less? Less populated states already have disproportionate power officially due to the Senate and unofficially due to the filibuster.
The not so secret but less talked about part of the electoral college is the fact the electors can invalidate the election, if they decided too, would you say rules are rules?
#5
Just Do It.
Posted 21 November 2016 - 03:27 PM
Sorry but Electoral College is still the best system we have without giving the majority the power of mob rule. It is not perfect but that is the best we got. I would not mind removing restrictions on some of state and local races to help third parties. I think Libertarians and Greens should have more say and exposure.
#8
Delicious!
Posted 20 December 2016 - 02:12 AM
Only five against Clinton, two against Trump. Shocking.
The electoral process wasn't really the problem, but actual voter apathy. While you don't care that your vote matters, a bunch of 
bois will do anything to make sure it works in their favor. Democracy works when it's most hands on board./
#9
Posted 20 December 2016 - 02:31 AM
Well, that and when one of the candidates doesn't start their fuckin victory lap a month before the election...Only five against Clinton, two against Trump. Shocking.
The electoral process wasn't really the problem, but actual voter apathy. While you don't care that your vote matters, a bunch of
#10
There are ten sticks of dynamite waiting for you.
Posted 20 December 2016 - 04:06 AM
Only five against Clinton, two against Trump. Shocking.
The electoral process wasn't really the problem, but actual voter apathy. While you don't care that your vote matters, a bunch of
Voter apathy has no singular cause, but the perception of an undemocratic electoral system can be one of them.
(It also helps to campaign in Michigan.)
#11
All around nice guy
Posted 21 December 2016 - 03:39 AM
Gotta love the fact that with all the Democrats imploring the electors to "vote their conscience," Clinton ended up losing more votes than Trump and perhaps even more indicative, most of those votes when to Colin Powell, a Republican rather than another Democrat.
Not to mention that three other Democratic electors initially refused to vote for Clinton as well and two were replaced and the other ended up voting for Clinton under pressure.
#13
Posted 11 May 2018 - 10:01 PM
Trump has won the US Election for President and the Republican Party has also maintained control of both the US House and Senate. During the campaign all three said they wanted to increase Military Spending. So, is this very good news for the F-35 Program???
