ELECTORAL COLLEGE: It gives Idaho a voice

Some are advocating for the elimination of the Electoral College and want to adopt the popular vote when determining the winner of a presidential election. At first, the popular vote, where the candidate with the most votes wins, sounds fair; however, a state with a small population, like Idaho, may not have a say.  

Imagine the influence of a state with a huge population such as California in the 2016 election. Clinton won the popular vote in California; however, if California’s popular vote were subtracted from the national popular vote, Trump won the popular vote totaled from the remaining 49 states. In addition, Trump received 306 Electoral votes compared to Clinton’s 202 votes.

The Electoral College is an elected group from every state who represent their voters as well as the candidate. According to the U.S. Constitution, Article II: Section 1, each state sends two Electors regardless of population plus 1 Elector per Congressional District which is based on the U.S. census. Presently, Idaho has 4 Electors compared to California which has 55 Electors.

The advantage of the Electoral College system is that each state, regardless of population, has a proportional say in the election of the president. Without the proportional Electoral votes, any state with a large population, using the popular vote, could elect our president without the input of less populated states. Keeping the Electoral system of voting is wise.

MARY SMITH

Coeur d’Alene