With another presidential election behind us, many people are once again questioning the wisdom in electing a president through the Electoral College instead of a national popular vote.
Since 1989 the Arkansas Legislature has considered two bills and one resolution attempting to abolish or circumvent the Electoral College.
HJR 1004 of 1989 called on Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to abolish the Electoral College.
HB 1703 of 2007 and HB 1339 of 2009 amended the way Arkansas would award its electoral votes by awarding all of Arkansas’ electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the national popular vote.
Ultimately, none of these proposals passed. Other states, like Maine and Nebraska, however, have taken steps to change the way their electoral votes are awarded.
Family Council has always believed it is unwise to meddle with the Electoral College. Below is a video from Dennis Prager’s Pager University highlighting three important things the Electoral College does:
- Protect against the tyranny of the majority.
- Encourage coalition-building.
- Discourage voter fraud.