Electoral College Reform

Facts:

1. As of the year 2000, 10 states account for 54% of the US population

2. The law can't prevent a candidate from voluntarily withdrawing from the race

3. Electoral college meets every 4 years

4. George W. Bush was the first Southern conservative since before the Civil War

5. The existence of the electoral college is bad for the third parties because they are very unlikely to win electoral votes

6. There are a total of 580 electoral votes  

7. Only a vote of 270 is needed for an election

8. The smallest number of electoral votes in a state is 3
9. The electoral college is not a college and it never meets as a single entity
10. The electoral college greatly influences the character of the parties, the nominating process, and the outcome of an election.


Questions:
1. Why did we decide to use the electoral college in the first place?
2. Are many people for it or against it?
3. How does it negatively affect elections?
4. How does it positively affect elections?
5. Do many people want to get rid of the electoral college and just go by the popular vote?


In my opinion, the system would be more fair without the electoral college. It doesn't seem right that the electoral college votes are the one's that determine the presidency. If a candidate wins the popular vote, that basically means he is favored by a majority of the American's who voted. Therefore, that person should become president.