Shortcomings of the US Electoral College system
While Donald Trump may have lost the popular vote – by more than 2.8 million, according to the count so far – that figure is far from the largest possible margin of 105 million by which a candidate could lose the popular vote yet still win the US presidency. Here’s how:
For simplicity in calculations, let’s assume the US has 51 states rather than 50 and that each state has one electoral vote and 100 popular votes. Thus a presidential
candidate can receive no
popular votes (and hence no electoral votes) in 25 states while winning the election with 51 popular votes and
1 electoral vote in each of
the remaining 26 states.
The winner’s total numbers would then be 1,326 popular votes and 26 electoral votes. He/she would have won a mere 26 per cent of the popular vote but 51 per cent of the electoral vote.
The lowest possible winning margin of 26 per cent equates to 57 million voters out of a total US electorate of 219 million, meaning a candidate could potentially lose the popular vote by 105 million to 57 million while still winning the presidency.
The scenario may sound extreme, but it serves to illustrate the obvious flaws of the Electoral College system, whereby a supermajority of 74 per cent could lose to a 26-per-cent minority.
Siraphop C
Rayong
