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What are the benefits to the US Electoral College system? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Boldizzle@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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So I'm a New Zealander and I have a pretty good idea on how the electoral college system works but it honestly sounds like something that can be easily corrupted and it feels like it renders the popular vote absolutely useless unless I'm totally missing something obvious?

So yeah if someone could explain to me what the benefits of such a system are, that would be awesome.

Edit - Thanks for the replies so far, already learning a lot!

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[–] projectmoon@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How would allowing electors to vote whatever they want be an improvement over binding them to state law?

Uncapping the house, yes, is a good thing. But I can't see how allowing unfaithful electors is a good idea.

[–] Nemo@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because they could weed out eminently unfit candidates, like a certain recent President.

[–] projectmoon@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But alternatively, it could be easily abused in the opposite direction. Better to just get rid of it and replace with some better voting system in my opinion.

[–] Nemo@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago

A diverse group of electors conspiring to elect an unfit president is farfetched, IMO.