Politics Professor Explains the Electoral College

What is the Electoral College, why do we have it, and should we keep it? Hillsdale College's Professor of Politics Kevin Portteus breaks it all down.

------------------------------

------------------------------

Hillsdale College is an independent institution of higher learning founded in 1844 by men and women “grateful to God for the inestimable blessings” resulting from civil and religious liberty and “believing that the diffusion of learning is essential to the perpetuity of these blessings.” It pursues the stated object of the founders: “to furnish all persons who wish, irrespective of nation, color, or sex, a literary, scientific, [and] theological education” outstanding among American colleges “and to combine with this such moral and social instruction as will best develop the minds and improve the hearts of its pupils.” As a nonsectarian Christian institution, Hillsdale College maintains “by precept and example” the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith.

The College also considers itself a trustee of our Western philosophical and theological inheritance tracing to Athens and Jerusalem, a heritage finding its clearest expression in the American experiment of self-government under law.

By training the young in the liberal arts, Hillsdale College prepares students to become leaders worthy of that legacy. By encouraging the scholarship of its faculty, it contributes to the preservation of that legacy for future generations. By publicly defending that legacy, it enlists the aid of other friends of free civilization and thus secures the conditions of its own survival and independence.

[heathclark]

Heck we should expand it to the states internally. So the rural parts are not drowned out by the cities which are becoming cesspools

[EmmaH]

Thank you so much. As a person who did not grow up here, but now a citizen. This helps explains a lot.

[jimmeade]

Excellent explanation. I have debated the pros and cons of the Electoral College. Although it is not perfect, it is a reasonable compromise between the will of the people (popular vote) and our nation being a nation of semi-independent states (electoral votes), where small states and large states each have a voice in the selection of the President.

I do like what Maine and Nebraska have done, getting away from the winner-takes-all concept and allocating one elector to each congressional district and two electors to the state's popular vote winner; it would be good for other (but not all) states to adopt that. This would reduce the possibility of a few large urban areas in some states from completely deciding the states' electoral votes, making rural areas meaningless. It would also encourage candidates to visit more parts of states, not just the large cities.

[pitluggreymore]

This makes so much more sense now. Thanks!

[Tony-pkql]

Brilliant explanation. I wish more people, especially amongst the media, would take the time to watch this.

[tommydameron]

Another excellent instructional video. Unfortunately in my opinion we in this country have too many NO information voters (including some elected officials) who would see this feature of our constitution go away.

[juliaro]

I was so mesmerized by the use of the Alphabet and other keyboard characters in the graphics presentation, that I’m going to have to watch it again and pay attention to the professor.

[jamalreed]

The only thing he didn’t touch on was how the states got their electors. Like who originally selected them. He went into how many they were allotted and who they weren’t but not how they were chosen.

[stevenwonnacott]

Exellent video from Hillsdale...Prof. Portteus clearly explains our election process which even many Americans don't completely understand!

[FirstKingOfKamelot]

i’m hearing him say electoral college forces candidates to campaign nationwide and outside their bubbles but that’s literally what they already do with swing states. No one campaigns in already decided states😐

[TLoumena]

The 2016 election is the best case for the electoral college in my opinion. Clinton won the popular vote by a little less than 3 million, she won California by over 4 million votes (Yes, take out California and Trump won the other 49 states by 1, 401, 459 votes). The electoral college keeps one state from dictating their will to the rest of the country.

[maryf]

Merits of the helpful content aside, the illustrations are wonderful. I wish this video had credits!

[timf]

Our system is made up of many checks and balances. This creates an environment where one does not gain absolute control over the other. It's fair for all not just the majority. What happens from time to time is a majority attempts to change the rules once in power to retain that power, rather than letting the pendulum swing.

Thank you for the informative video.

[prsancho]

The Electoral College is a a manifestation of the American ethos. It also emulates, in the Executive branch the structure of the Legislative branch. In brief, the states matter.

The presidential election is by the peoples of the states in union. First, the people on each state elect their president. Then, the states meet at the Electoral College to elect a common president to all.

Americans, do not get rid of the Electoral College. It’s important. It’s part of who you are.

Cheers from Brazil.

[jimwinchester]

WIthout the electoral college, our national elections would turn only on who has the largest 4-or-5 cities. Many state's would be essentially irrelevant. Ultimately, they would leave the union (and justifiably so). The electoral college is essential to guarantee not only that the president-elect is popular, but consistently popular *thoughout* the land.

[nobodyspecial]

Thank you so much for reminding us we are a REPUBLIC, not a Democracy, now if only we can get the Media and our Politicians to understand that, our country might just become less polarized.

[OLSZOWKA]

How do our votes factor into the electoral college people's decisions? If the electoral college chooses the president why do we the people even vote?

[Victor-tldk]

I'm not sure how much less presidents would 'pander' to rural towns since all states have big cities and state vote is popular now, but

I think it's very good that a state like Texas or California can't dictate politics for the whole country. The people in Idaho or Indiana matter too and have different issues. California or Texas voters may vote differently if they lived in those states.

Then again, now that the US is basically the same everywhere +/- 20% how much does this really matter?

[bdaddyo]

Very well explained. Unfortunately, the winner-take-all method that 48 of our states have adopted are barely any better than a simple majority. Every states' electoral vites should be apportioned to the presidential candidate based on the popular vote of each and every congressional district. This would result in a MUCH more accurate result representing all of our states' citizens regardless of population density.

[Hanrich]

I've learnt so much from Hillsdale College. Thank you all for the selfless knowledge shared . Let's support Hillsdale in every way possible. We need more institutions like Hillsdale in the US now. May the Lord bless this great institution!!