The U.S. should eliminate the electoral college and go to ranked choice voting
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The Argument
The U.S. should eliminate the electoral college and go to ranked choice voting
The United States should eliminate the Electoral College and adopt a nationwide popular vote with ranked choice voting because it would make elections more democratic, representative, and fair. Under the current Electoral College system, a candidate can lose the national popular vote but still become president. This has happened multiple times in U.S. history, including in 2000 and 2016. When the candidate preferred by most voters does not win, it undermines public trust and creates the perception that some votes matter more than others. The Electoral College also concentrates political power in a small number of swing states. Candidates spend most of their time and resources campaigning in a handful of competitive states while largely ignoring the rest of the country. As a result, voters in safe states often feel their voices do not matter. A nationwide popular vote would make every vote equal no matter where someone lives and would encourage candidates to campaign across the entire country. Adding ranked choice voting would improve the system even further. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing only one. If no candidate receives a majority of first choice votes, the lowest candidate is eliminated and those votes are redistributed according to voters' next preferences. This process continues until a candidate earns a true majority. The result is a winner who has broader support from voters, not just a plurality. Ranked choice voting also reduces the spoiler effect, where similar candidates split votes and allow a less popular candidate to win. It encourages more positive campaigns because candidates benefit from being voters' second or third choice. Together, a nationwide popular vote and ranked choice voting would ensure that the president is chosen directly by the people and that the winner reflects the broadest possible support of the electorate.