ELECTORAL COLLEGE: Unfair to larger states

A recent letter defended the Electoral College as “fair to small states.” However, it misstates the meaning of “fair,” and ignores the unfairness of the Electoral College to large states.

Why did the Founders create the Electoral College? Slavery. When the Constitution was written, the Authors wanted the Slave States to join the Union under the new Constitution. However the Slave States (at the time) had small populations, and would have little legislative power in a (truly) representative democracy. In addition, the original Constitution permitted the states to count 3/5 of their slave population as part of the total population, in order to allocate more representatives to Slave States. Another little known advantage: in an indecisive election, the selection of president would be performed in the House of Representatives, with each state given a single vote (this was the motive of the “alternative electors” schemes of 2020). The greatest advantage to small states is the U.S. Senate, with every state given two senators regardless of the population. In the U.S. Senate, every Wyoming voter has the same power as 55 California voters.

Thus, the Constitution has several ways to give unfair advantage to small states. In the last eight presidential elections, the Republican has won the popular vote exactly once — but have held three presidential terms.

Some Republicans complain about stolen elections, but by any reasonable measure only the Republicans have benefitted from the unfairness built into the Constitution, and only Republicans have actively attempted to steal an election.

JOHN D. SAHR

Otis Orchards, Wash.