Why the Electoral College Is Bad for AmericaRecommendations

The electoral college is the system through which Americans pick their president. It is a complicated system that can elect a candidate who does not earn the most votes. George Edwards III argues in this fascinating book that, contrary to what proponents of the electoral college assert, there is no legitimate rationale for a system that may defy majority rule.

Edwards uses data to show that the electoral college fails to defend the interests of small states or racial minorities, fails to provide presidents with viable coalitions for governing, and fails to shield the American democracy from the supposed evils of direct presidential election. In truth, the electoral college distorts presidential campaigns by encouraging third parties to field presidential candidates and discouraging party rivalry in many states, causing candidates to overlook most small and some major states and pay little attention to minorities.

Edwards convincingly illustrates that direct presidential election without a runoff increases political equality and removes the electoral college's political system inefficiencies.