Electoral College Editorial: An Electoral College Reform Proposal

ElectoralCollege.Org
Editorial: Two Electoral College Reforms

We support two reforms to the Electoral College.

The first reform is to reduce the number of electors per state by two. Under this plan the Electoral College would change from 538 to 436 electors. Had this plan been in effect in 2004 election, Gore would have won 225 to 211.

This plan is closer to proportional representation without the pitfalls of requiring a total national recount in a close national election. Only the states that have a close vote would need to recount.

The second reform is to enact a federal election law that requires each state to allocate its electoral votes in proportion to the total statewide popular vote. This plan is similar to the one being voted on November 2, 2004 in Colorado. The difference is that the Colorado referendum only applies to Colorado and not to all states.

We do not like the current winner-take-all approach that exists in most states and the vote by congressional district approach of Maine and Nebraska. One problem with electing electors at the congressional district level is the potential for abuse in gerrymandering congressional districts. Look what Tom Delay, the exterminator, did with his friends in the Texas state legislature to redraw congressional districts after the 2000 Census.

If the approach of allocating electors is allowed to vary by states, the two major political parties would be motivated to use the winner-take-all approach in states were they are strong and to advocate 'reform' in states were they could gain a few electoral votes through either the proportional or congressional district approaches.

We hope to develop two calculators within the next day to show how these two reforms would apply to this election. Stay tuned.