The Electoral college is where 538 electors who officially elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state is given a specific number of electors they get. The legislatures of that state get to choose who those electors are.
The Electoral College was developed because it wanted to destroy the buffer between the population and the president. It also wanted to be a part of the government that gave the smaller states some more power which would lead to no tyranny. They also watned to promote federalism, which is when the state and national government share their power evenly.
Some critics have argued that the Electoral College gives the "swing states" more influence in electing the president and vice president. Another thing critics say about it is that the tallying of the votes may not always be as accurately represent the popluar vote.
Throughout all the elections held there has only been four in which the person won the Popular Vote but did not take office because of losing the Electoral College vote. One was in 1888, Benjamin Harrison lost the Popular Vote by 95,713 to Grover Cleveland but won the Electoral college by 65. A more recent one happened in 2000 when Al Gore had almost more than half a million more votes than George Bush but Bush got 271 Electoral college votes.
I personally believe we shouldn't keep the Elecotral College because I think we the people should vote for our president, not the state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-criticisms-of-the-electoral-college.htm
Replies
I think they should get rid of the electoral thing to. it is not fair that four people did not get to become president because of them electoral votes. They should of been presidents. but they wont get rid of it.
Good but this should be added to the blog section.