Why the Electoral College is Flawed: How Disproportionate Power Gives Smaller States Unfair Advantage in Presidential Elections

The Electoral College introduces a bias into the campaign and electoral process because __________.

less populated states are overrepresented

The Electoral College introduces a bias into the campaign and electoral process because it gives disproportionate power to smaller states. The number of electoral votes a state receives is determined by the total number of representatives it has in the House of Representatives (determined by population) plus its two senators (which every state has regardless of population). This means that less populous states have a greater say in electing the President than more populous states. For example, Wyoming, with a population of around 580,000 people, has three electoral votes, while California, with a population of over 39 million people, has 55 electoral votes.

As a result, presidential candidates tend to focus more on swing states and less on states with a clear political leaning because winning a swing state can make a significant difference in the electoral vote count. Additionally, candidates may neglect issues that are important to residents of less populous states because they know they can win those states with minimal effort. This can lead to an unequal distribution of attention and resources during the campaign, and ultimately, an Electoral College outcome that may not fully reflect the popular vote.

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