Letter to the editor: Good reason for Electoral College

OPINION:

I am disappointed when I see people in the media advise doing away with the Electoral College. Such people would rather promote primary emphasis on the cumulative popular vote across all states as a desirable goal for determining the outcome of presidential elections in 2024 and thereafter.

The United States (notice “states” is a plural word) is our name, and for good reason. We are a nation of sovereign entities, or states. Each state has its own laws, flag and elected leader, known as its governor. Our nation was designed this way on purpose. More-populous states and smaller states compromised in order to unite under a single national flag with all states maintaining their individual sovereignty.

This constitutional arrangement allows our citizens to move if and whenever they wish to any other state in the union for whatever reason that motivates them. This is a freedom to be cherished and protected. 

As far as national presidential elections are concerned, this arrangement — referred to as the Electoral College — maintains the same states’ individual protections. Each state’s voters or representatives decides upon the individual they want for president.

If the Electoral College were somehow abolished, a few large states would essentially dictate certain laws to the entire country and significantly negate the sovereignty of the rest of the states.

The citizens living in the numerous small states would have to abide by laws and policies favored by the citizens of the few large states, whether they liked those laws or not.

Would that really be democracy? I think not.

JOSEPH MICHAEL SELNICK

Reston, Virginia