Time To Eliminate The Electoral College?
BOSTON (CBS) - Now that we know Hillary Clinton got the most votes from citizens, those who backed her are calling for an end to the Electoral College, which voted Donald Trump into the Oval Office instead.
"I don't think it's a good way to set up the elections. I think that it's sort of a contrivance of the past that we should let go of," said voter Emma Mulligan.
Trump himself has criticized the process, tweeting, "The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy." That was back in 2012. Ironically four years later, it's his key to the White House.
"It's as antiquated as the Ford Model T," said Boston University Political Professor Thomas Whalen.
He explained there have been failed attempts at reforming the system throughout history. It would require the approval of the now Republican-controlled Congress and 38 states, which is not likely.
"This has the danger of undermining faith in our democracy, because a lot of people feel, we're not being heard. Our voices are not being heard, even though we are the majority of voices," said Whalen.
But the founding fathers created the Electoral College to give voice to smaller, or less-populated states, and some feel that's still important. "Is the Electoral College perfect? Absolutely not. Is it the best one? It's the best one we've heard so far," said voter Monica Mondloch.
There's a reason the calls for change come from Democrats more often than Republicans. Since 1992, every Democratic candidate for president has won the popular vote except for one, John Kerry. In 2000, Al Gore lost the election to George Bush, even though he had more popular votes.