Electoral college was instituted to give power to slave states

Current Events » in reply to Amendment 36 could add a wrinkle to electoral college calculations.

E.P. Grondine — 9/26/2004 3:56:28 PM (archived)

At the time of the replacement of the Articles of Confederation, the electoral college was instituted to give power to the lave states - each non-voting slave counted as 2/3 of a person, for the allocation of seats in the house, and for the allocation of electoral college representatives.

In those days, there was a high mortality rate, and it was entirely possible that the Presidential nominee would not live to be sworn in as President. For example, one president died of pneumonia caught during his inaugural.

It worked at the time, but the inevitable result was the Civil War.

Proportional allocation of electoral college votes strikes me as being a good thing, It would mean that no candidate or president could blow off a state.

just a first consideration -
ep

The whole thread (21 posts)

Amendment 36 could add a wrinkle to electoral college calculations. - jms - 9/26/2004 3:28:22 PM
- The merits can be discussed, but having a vote on the day of the election to decide how to apply the vote does not seem right. (n/t) - ebnelson - 9/27/2004 2:33:59 PM
- Amendment 36 is a very dumb idea - Larry J - 9/27/2004 1:41:24 PM
  - how 36 tries to get around Article II - jms - 9/27/2004 3:36:05 PM
    - Now, imagine if the EC vote count is close and Amendment 36 passes - Larry J - 9/27/2004 4:03:19 PM
- re: I think that it weakens your state's roll in the election. - Scott Evil - 9/27/2004 1:40:17 PM
  - The guy who is sponsoring Amendment 36 is from California - Larry J - 9/27/2004 3:21:15 PM
  - Increasing polarization of the country - E.P. Grondine - 9/27/2004 3:12:11 PM
- Colorado's Amendment 36: ballot details: (.pdf link) - jms - 9/27/2004 1:37:47 AM
  - from the reference desk: Colorado State Constitution - jms - 9/27/2004 4:42:44 PM
  - To be exact, "Amendment 36" is the addition of a new section (# 13) to Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. (n/t) - jms - 9/27/2004 3:18:33 PM
- Since when are there 36 amendments to the USA Constitution? - David F Mayer - 9/26/2004 11:09:36 PM
  - State Ammendment (n/t) - Mark Eby - 9/26/2004 11:22:11 PM
    - Thanks. (n/t) - DFM - 9/27/2004 5:19:29 AM
- It's Great. It Would Render An Outdated System Almost Null & Void - Mark Eby - 9/26/2004 9:44:44 PM
- re: Amendment 36 could add a wrinkle to electoral college calculations. - gbaikie - 9/26/2004 4:19:27 PM
  - The retroactive aspect gives me pause, too. (n/t) - jms - 9/26/2004 5:51:46 PM
- Electoral college was instituted to give power to slave states - E.P. Grondine - 9/26/2004 3:56:28 PM
  - This year Colorado is up for grabs, - jms - 9/26/2004 5:55:29 PM
    - The system serves nobody well - Robert - 9/27/2004 12:53:29 AM
    - I don't know the specifics of the propostion, but - E.P. Grondine - 9/26/2004 7:39:08 PM

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