The Electoral College's Stranglehold on Elections

The Electoral College is a peculiar system in the United States that gives disproportionate power to a handful of states. It was created to appease delegates at the Constitutional Convention and has been controversial for a long time. This system has resulted in candidates winning the presidency without the most votes, affecting policy for decades. The 2024 election will largely focus on just seven states, even though they have less than 20% of the population. These states, known as swing states, receive more attention and resources from presidents looking to secure their next term. Political scientists have found that presidents direct more resources to these swing states. A study showed that in election years, swing state counties supportive of the president get billions more in federal spending. This is not just about money; it also includes disaster relief. For example, during Hurricane Milton, the swing state of North Carolina got a lot of attention, while nearby Tennessee did not. This is because the outcome in North Carolina could impact the election, while Tennessee is considered a safe Republican state.

The Electoral College's impact has grown worse over time. Since 2000, Americans have been divided into red and blue states based on election results. This has led to fewer states switching parties between elections. In 2020, only five states flipped from 2016, with less than 6% of voters changing their party support. This narrow focus on swing states means that many Americans feel left out of the political process. There's an argument that swing states change over time, giving everyone a chance. However, the 2024 battleground states are largely the same as in 2020. This means that the four largest states by population—California, Texas, Florida, and New York—are not being seriously considered in the election. This is frustrating for voters in these states, as they feel ignored by presidential campaigns.

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