I think the Electoral college system is no longer effective for representing the citizens will. What other method can be representative, foolproof (gerrymandering), and fair?
User believes the Electoral College system is no longer effective for representing the citizens’ will.
Model set context updated.
A more representative and fair alternative to the Electoral College could be a **national popular vote** system, where the president is elected based purely on the total number of votes cast by citizens across the entire country. This method directly reflects the will of the people by ensuring that every vote counts equally, regardless of state lines.
To address gerrymandering and create a foolproof system, several reforms could be considered:
1. **Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV)**: In RCV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate gets a majority, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on voters’ preferences. This reduces the likelihood of “wasted” votes and promotes majority support while diminishing extreme partisanship.
2. **Proportional Representation**: Instead of a winner-take-all system, representation is distributed based on the percentage of votes each party receives. This system, used in many countries, ensures minority voices are represented more accurately.
3. **Independent Redistricting Commissions**: To prevent gerrymandering, non-partisan commissions can be tasked with drawing district lines. Several U.S. states already use these commissions to ensure that districts are drawn based on neutral criteria, like geographical compactness and community integrity, rather than political advantage.
Each of these methods can contribute to a system that better reflects the voters’ will and minimizes opportunities for manipulation.
The biggest issue I am trying to overcome is that cities with high populations can essentially make all of the rules for the state.
Balancing the influence of high-population cities with rural or less populated areas is a common concern in democratic systems. Here are a few potential approaches to addressing this issue:
1. **Proportional Voting by Region**: Rather than using a winner-take-all approach in each state, electoral votes or legislative representation could be proportionally distributed based on regional or district results. This would allow rural areas to have a more balanced voice compared to urban centers, as each region’s vote would carry weight proportionally.
2. **Weighted Voting**: A system where votes are weighted differently based on regional factors like population density or economic contribution could be considered. While challenging to implement equitably, this method could provide more balance between urban and rural areas by ensuring that neither can dominate policy decisions.
3. **Multi-Member Districts**: By having larger districts that elect multiple representatives based on a proportion of the vote, urban areas would still be influential, but rural areas would also gain fairer representation through the allocation of seats that reflect diverse regional interests.
4. **Senate-style Representation for States**: Adopting a bicameral system at the state level, where a lower house is based on population and an upper house gives equal representation to regions or counties, could help balance the voices of urban and rural voters. This mirrors the federal structure in the U.S., where the Senate provides equal representation for each state.
5. **Modified Electoral College within States**: Instead of abolishing the Electoral College, it could be reformed so that states allocate electors based on regional voting rather than a winner-take-all system. For example, splitting states’ electoral votes by congressional district or region could ensure more balanced representation of rural and urban areas.
These methods aim to ensure that neither cities nor rural areas have outsized influence, promoting a system where different regions can have their voices heard in policy-making without overpowering one another.