November 22, 2020

The national popular vote was first recorded in 1824. Since then there have been four presidential elections where the winner won the Electoral College and lost the popular vote: Donald Trump in 2016 , George W Bush in 2000 , Benjamin Harrison in 1888 and Rutherford B Hayes in 1876. Given the low frequency of these events, why the increased discussion in recent years about the abolition of the electoral college? We can think of two reasons. One being that two of the four episodes took place in the last quarter century, making the voters aware of the outcome . Another reason could be that some of the current the opponents of the electoral college disagree with the outcome ; in each case the beneficiary were republican candidate. Unhappy with the outcome, these people want to change the process to prevent similar occurrences in the future. But in doing so , they may be getting more than they are bargaining. The abolition of the electoral college may change the electoral system in ways that the proponents have not anticipated or desire.

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