Why does the U.S. use the Electoral College?

NBC News' Zinhle Essamuah explains the history and role of the Electoral College, established by the Founding Fathers and challenged nearly 800 times. By 2024, 17 states and Washington D.C. have moved toward a popular vote system through the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, but the traditional Electoral College remains in place for the upcoming election.

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[EnquiriesSFA]

This video did not explain it very well at all.

[djmsk]

To ensure the US doesn't become a democracy in fact rather than in fantasy.

[matthewsemrad]

Is it just me, or did this video fail to give a reason "why" the U.S. uses the electoral college?

[randallwilson]

If there wasn't the electoral college there wouldn't be battleground states. Candidates would have to campaign to all Americans

[jackwilliams]

So let's give the super bowl to the team that gains the most yards even if they get less points?

[Ricky-gi]

Good luck getting 3/4 of the states to agree to abolish the electoral college. lol

[CallLeeFree-]

The electoral college ensures the smaller groups have a voice in the election instead of Mob rules.

[AC-imhi]

Becuase the president isnt supposed to represent the individual. Thats what congress is for. Its called checks and balances. I swear some people slept straight through high school.

[kendallturner]

Anyone who thinks that this electoral college dissolution discussion just started in the last decade is really kidding themselves, we are the ONLY democracy in the world that still uses an electoral college, there have been serious pushes to rid this country of the electoral college as far back as the presidential elections of 1800 (Jefferson vs Burr) & 1824 (John Quincy Adams vs Andrew Jackson)
That’s my history lesson for the day but I don’t care if there is or isn’t an electoral college, it’s just a rich man’s chess match we’re all the pawns 😂😂😂

[VlANEYDavila]

Because republicans can’t win without it and gerrymandering and they still barely pull it off

[sionbarzad]

Because a good portion of the public are fools.

[AnonymousU]

Because if California and New York were Republican NBC wouldn’t be posting this.

[tejanoj]

If someone has to hand out money to get votes for a candidate, it's very likely the candidate's ideas and policies are not popular.

[Whataboutism-oj]

because the US has always been a confederation instead of a union. State rights are above human rights

[SMOKEY]

Thank goodness for the electoral college.

[MaxBrewsterNZ]

You know their panicking when they release videos like this.

[Mishka_j]

The Constitution wouldn't have been ratified sans Electoral College. Eliminating it requires a Constitutional Amendment, and that'll NEVER Happen.

[MG]

Why is this even a video? It's not going to change. Get over it. That's how the founders designed this country. We are a constitutional republic.

[roneeclark]

I think just the fact that it was partially designed based on a time of slavery is reason enough to change it. I mean, everyone was insistent on finally taking down some or all of the confederate statues and all that jazz, so why aren’t we doing the same for this? It’s astonishing how far behind the U.S. is compared to other countries. And embarrassing I might add!!

[haha]

The electoral college is the keep the small states relevant and not be dominated by the large states, it’s the fairest system. Every state get two votes plus how many based on the census.