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The Electoral College Explained

A national popular vote would help ensure that every vote counts equally, making American democracy more representative.

Tim Lau

  • Electoral College Reform

In the United States, the presidency is decided not by the national popular vote but by the Electoral College — an outdated and convoluted system that sometimes yields results contrary to the choice of the majority of American voters. On five occasions, including in two of the last six elections, candidates have won the Electoral College, and thus the presidency, despite losing the nationwide popular vote. 

The Electoral College has racist origins — when established, it applied the three-fifths clause, which gave a long-term electoral advantage to slave states in the South — and continues to dilute the political power of voters of color. It incentivizes presidential campaigns to focus on a relatively small number of “swing states.” Together, these dynamics have spurred debate about the system’s democratic legitimacy.

To make the United States a more representative democracy, reformers are pushing for the presidency to be decided instead by the national popular vote, which would help ensure that every voter counts equally.

What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

The Electoral College is a group of intermediaries designated by the Constitution to select the president and vice president of the United States. Each of the 50 states is allocated presidential electors  equal to the number of its representatives and senators . The ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961 allowed citizens in the District of Columbia to participate in presidential elections as well; they have consistently had three electors.

In total, the Electoral College comprises  538 members . A presidential candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes cast to win — at least 270 if all 538 electors vote.

The Constitution grants state legislatures the power to decide how to appoint their electors. Initially, a number of state legislatures directly  selected their electors , but during the 19th century they transitioned to the popular vote, which is now used by  all 50 states . In other words, each awards its electoral votes to the presidential candidate chosen by the state’s voters.

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia use a winner-take-all system, awarding all of their electoral votes to the popular vote winner in the state. Maine and Nebraska award one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each of their congressional districts and their remaining two electoral votes to the statewide winner. Under this system, those two states sometimes split their electoral votes among candidates.

In the months leading up to the general election, the political parties in each state typically nominate their own slates of would-be electors. The state’s popular vote determines which party’s slates will be made electors. Members of the Electoral College  meet and vote in their respective states  on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December after Election Day. Then, on January 6, a joint session of Congress meets at the Capitol to count the electoral votes and declare the outcome of the election, paving the way for the presidential inauguration on January 20.

How was the Electoral College established?

The Constitutional Convention in 1787 settled on the Electoral College as a compromise between delegates who thought Congress should select the president and others who favored a direct nationwide popular vote. Instead, state legislatures were entrusted with appointing electors.

Article II  of the Constitution, which established the executive branch of the federal government, outlined the framers’ plan for the electing the president and vice president. Under this plan, each elector cast two votes for president; the candidate who received the most votes became the president, with the second-place finisher becoming vice president — which led to administrations in which political opponents served in those roles. The process was overhauled in 1804 with the ratification of the  12th Amendment , which required electors to cast votes separately for president and vice president. 

How did slavery shape the Electoral College?

At the time of the Constitutional Convention, the northern states and southern states had  roughly equal populations . However, nonvoting enslaved people made up about one-third of the southern states’ population. As a result, delegates from the South objected to a direct popular vote in presidential elections, which would have given their states less electoral representation.

The debate contributed to the convention’s eventual decision to establish the Electoral College, which applied the  three-fifths compromise  that had already been devised for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives. Three out of five enslaved people were counted as part of a state’s total population, though they were nonetheless prohibited from voting.

Wilfred U. Codrington III, an assistant professor of law at Brooklyn Law School and a Brennan Center fellow,  writes  that the South’s electoral advantage contributed to an “almost uninterrupted trend” of presidential election wins by southern slaveholders and their northern sympathizers throughout the first half of the 19th century. After the Civil War, in 1876, a contested Electoral College outcome was settled by a compromise in which the House awarded Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency with the understanding that he would withdraw military forces from the Southern states. This led to the end of Reconstruction and paved the way for racial segregation under Jim Crow laws.

Today, Codrington argues, the Electoral College continues to dilute the political power of Black voters: “Because the concentration of black people is highest in the South, their preferred presidential candidate is virtually assured to lose their home states’ electoral votes. Despite black voting patterns to the contrary, five of the six states whose populations are 25 percent or more black have been reliably red in recent presidential elections. … Under the Electoral College, black votes are submerged.”

What are faithless electors?  

Ever since the 19th century reforms, states have expected their electors to honor the will of the voters. In other words, electors are now pledged to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state. However, the Constitution does not require them to do so, which allows for scenarios in which “faithless electors” have voted against the popular vote winner in their states. As of 2016, there have been  90 faithless electoral votes  cast out of 23,507 in total across all presidential elections. The 2016 election saw a record-breaking  seven faithless electors , including three who voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was not a presidential candidate at the time.  

Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia  require their presidential electors  to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged. Only 5 states, however, impose a penalty on faithless electors, and only 14 states provide for faithless electors to be removed or for their votes to be canceled. In July 2020, the Supreme Court  unanimously upheld  existing state laws that punish or remove faithless electors.

What happens if no candidate wins a majority of Electoral College votes?

If no ticket wins a majority of Electoral College votes, the presidential election is  sent to the House of Representatives  for a runoff. Unlike typical House practice, however, each state only gets one vote, decided by the party that controls the state’s House delegation. Meanwhile, the vice-presidential race is decided in the Senate, where each member has one vote. This scenario  has not transpired since 1836 , when the Senate was tasked with selecting the vice president after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.

Are Electoral College votes distributed equally between states?

Each state is allocated a number of electoral votes based on the total size of its congressional delegation. This benefits smaller states, which have at least three electoral votes — including two electoral votes tied to their two Senate seats, which are guaranteed even if they have a small population and thus a small House delegation. Based on population trends, those disparities will likely increase as the most populous states are expected to account for an even greater share of the U.S. population in the decades ahead. 

What did the 2020 election reveal about the Electoral College?

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential race, Donald Trump and his allies fueled an effort to overturn the results of the election, spreading repeated lies about widespread voter fraud. This included attempts by a number of state legislatures to nullify some of their states’ votes, which often targeted jurisdictions with large numbers of Black voters. Additionally, during the certification process for the election, some members of Congress also objected to the Electoral College results, attempting to throw out electors from certain states. While these efforts ultimately failed, they revealed yet another vulnerability of the election system that stems from the Electoral College.

The  Electoral Count Reform Act , enacted in 2023, addresses these problems. Among other things, it clarifies which state officials have the power to appoint electors, and it bars any changes to that process after Election Day, preventing state legislatures from setting aside results they do not like. The new law also raises the threshold for consideration of objections to electoral votes. It is now one-fifth of each chamber instead of one senator and one representative.  Click here for more on the changes made by the Electoral Count Reform Act.

What are ways to reform the Electoral College to make presidential elections more democratic?

Abolishing the Electoral College outright would require a constitutional amendment. As a workaround, scholars and activist groups have rallied behind the  National Popular Vote Interstate Compact  (NPV), an effort that started after the 2000 election. Under it, participating states would  commit to awarding their electoral votes  to the winner of the national popular vote.

In other words, the NPV would formally retain the Electoral College but render it moot, ensuring that the winner of the national popular vote also wins the presidency. If enacted, the NPV would incentivize presidential candidates to expand their campaign efforts nationwide, rather than focus only on a small number of swing states.

For the NPV to take effect, it must first be adopted by states that control at least 270 electoral votes. In 2007, Maryland became the first state to enact the compact. As of 2019, a total of 19 states and Washington, DC, which collectively account for 196 electoral votes, have joined.

The public has consistently supported a nationwide popular vote. A 2020 poll by Pew Research Center, for example, found that  58 percent of adults  prefer a system in which the presidential candidate who receives the most votes nationwide wins the presidency.

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The Electoral College: a Founding Compromise

This essay about the Electoral College traces its origins back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, highlighting it as a compromise between electing a president by Congress or a direct vote from the people. It underscores the system’s role in balancing concerns about direct democracy and the concentration of power, with electors intended to be informed citizens making the final decision. The essay also touches on the transition from legislative selection of electors to voter-driven choices and discusses the ongoing debates around the Electoral College’s relevance. It reflects on the system’s ability to combine federal and democratic elements, ensuring representation across the United States while sparking discussions on democratic representation and fairness. Overall, the piece presents the Electoral College as a unique solution to a political dilemma, embodying the innovative spirit of American governance and the complexities of establishing a lasting democratic system.

How it works

Back in the sweltering summer of 1787, as the Founding Fathers debated over how the fledgling United States should pick its president, the Electoral College was born—not out of unanimity but as a classic American compromise. This unique method, woven into the fabric of the U.S. Constitution, was their answer to a question that had them split down the middle. Should Congress elect the president, or should the people have their say directly? The Electoral College emerged as a middle path, a bit of both, showing early on that America was going to be a place of innovative solutions.

At the heart of it, the Electoral College was a workaround. It addressed the fears of those worried about handing over such a crucial decision to a potentially uninformed populace, while also countering concerns about giving Congress too much power, which could upset the balance of the new government. It was a way to let the people have their say but through a layer of electors—meant to be wise and informed citizens—who would make the final decision.

This system kicked off with George Washington’s election and has been the way presidents are elected ever since. It’s a setup where each state gets a certain number of electors (equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives), blending the country’s federal structure with a dash of democratic seasoning. Initially, state legislatures mostly picked these electors, but the shift to letting voters directly choose them became the norm by the 19th century.

Despite its longevity, the Electoral College has always been a bit of a lightning rod for debate. It’s had its awkward moments, like when the winner of the popular vote didn’t wind up in the White House. Yet, supporters argue it keeps smaller states on the political map and ensures a wide spread of attention from presidential candidates.

The creation of the Electoral College is a classic tale of American political innovation—finding a way through disagreement with a compromise that has lasted more than two centuries. It reflects the challenges and complexities of setting up a new government system that aimed to balance various interests and has continued to spark conversation about how democracy works in America. As we move forward, the Electoral College stands as a reminder of the Founding Fathers’ ability to create a resilient and adaptable system of governance, even as it prompts ongoing debates about representation and fairness in the American democratic experiment.

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52 Electoral College Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best electoral college topic ideas & essay examples, 📃 good research topics about electoral college, ⭐ interesting topics to write about electoral college.

  • The Electoral College in the United States Political analysts believe that the existence of the Electoral College has led to the development of the United States as a nation.
  • US Constitution Changes Regarding Electoral College The first lens is the political lens, which is the understanding of the power relationship between those who possess the power and those who lack it.
  • Electoral College and Congregational Reapportionment In the US, for instance, the electoral votes in each state are not distributed based on the popular votes cast to each candidate but the winner is taken to be the one with the popular […]
  • Electoral College’s Advantages and Disadvantages Made up of 538 electors, the Electoral College votes decide the president and vice president of the United States of America.
  • Electoral College: Prognosis for 2016 Clinton seems to be unlikely to win the 2016 elections, as the effects of the Democratic Party’s rule have been beyond deplorable in Obama’s office years.
  • Electoral College Versus Direct Election Due to the problems the Electoral College system created during the 2000 presidential elections, people are clamoring to abolish or reform the said system.
  • History of Electoral College According to this principle, the candidate who wins the majority of votes in a state takes the rest of the votes as well.
  • Problems Facing the Electoral College in Presidential Elections The Electoral College is an electoral system in the United States that was established through the Constitution of the United States; this was subsequently amended through the establishment of the 12th Amendment of the year […]
  • Abolishing the Electoral College: A Pathway to Democracy
  • The Electoral College and Its Relation to the 2000 Presidential Election
  • Alexander Hamilton’s Electoral College and the Modern Election
  • Abolishing the Electoral College: Pros and Cons
  • The Electoral College and Proposed Reform Policies
  • The Necessity of Reforming the Electoral College for America
  • The Strengths and Weakness of the Electoral College
  • The Electoral College and the American Idea of Democracy
  • Applying the Electoral College to the U.S. And Elsewhere
  • Checks and Balances: Federalism and Electoral College
  • Civics: The Electoral College and Primaries
  • The Electoral College and the Influence of California
  • Constitutional Amendment and Abolish the Electoral College
  • Doubts and Concerns Floats on the Accuracy of Electoral College
  • Electoral College and Why It Should Be Changed
  • The Electoral College and the Problems That Come With It
  • Federalism and the Electoral College: General Ticket Method for Selecting Presidential Electors
  • The Electoral College Should Not Be Abolished
  • The Electoral College and Voter Participation: Evidence on Two Hypotheses
  • Many Argue the Flaws in the Electoral College of the United States
  • Electoral College System and the Alleged Advantages
  • Modern Election Arguments Against the Electoral College
  • Electoral College Voting System for Choosing the President
  • Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns: The Idea of Electoral College
  • The Electoral College Issues From a Political Correctness Perspective
  • Electoral Versus Popular Vote: Criticisms of the Electoral College
  • Outdated Political System: Get Rid of the Electoral College
  • The Electoral College: Dilemma of the United States
  • POS Structure and Function of the Electoral College
  • Predicting Electoral College Victory Probabilities From State Probability Data
  • Sophisticated and Myopic? Citizen Preferences for Electoral College Reform
  • The Electoral College and Its Impact on Voter Turnout
  • Suffrage for the People: The Electoral College and Possible Alternatives
  • The Electoral College: How It Has Shaped the Modern Presidential Election
  • Swing States, the Winner-Take-All Electoral College, and Fiscal Federalism
  • Advantages and Problems With the Electoral College System in America
  • The American Voting System: Overview of Electoral College
  • The Conflicts Concerning the Electoral College in America
  • The Controversies Surrounding the Electoral College
  • The Electoral College: Diversification and the Election Process
  • The Corruption, Revolt, and Criticism Surrounding the American Electoral College System
  • The Electoral College and How Popular Vote Doesn’t Matter
  • The Electoral College, Battleground States, and Rule-Utilitarian Voting
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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Elections — Electoral College

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Essays on Electoral College

Electoral college essay prompts.

Let's kick things off with some prompts to get those wheels turning. An electoral college essay doesn't have to be dry or tedious. Check these out:

  • Debate the relevance of the Electoral College in today's digital era.
  • Analyze the impact of the Electoral College on swing states.
  • Compare and contrast the Electoral College with a popular vote system.

Brainstorming Genius: Finding Your Angle

Finding a fresh angle on the Electoral College can seem daunting, but fear not! Here's how to unearth an essay topic that resonates:

  • Current Events: Tie in recent elections or political debates for a timely twist.
  • Personal Interest: What aspects intrigue you? Dive deeper into those.
  • Unexplored Perspectives: Seek out viewpoints that aren't commonly discussed.

Electoral College Essay Topics: Beyond the Basics

Ready for topics that will make your readers sit up and take notice? Move beyond the basics with these ideas:

  • The role of the Electoral College in protecting minority interests.
  • How the Electoral College influences campaign strategies.
  • The history and evolution of the Electoral College.
  • Electoral College: A barrier to democracy or a protector of it?
  • Pros and cons of abolishing the Electoral College.

Writing Inspiration: Kickstart Your Electoral College Essay

Need a little inspiration to start typing? Here are some phrases and paragraph starters to ignite your passion:

"Exploring the origins of the Electoral College reveals a tangled web of political compromise and the founding fathers' fears of direct democracy..."

"The debate around the Electoral College is more than just academic; it's a reflection of the ongoing struggle between federalist principles and the call for direct representation..."

Is The Electoral College Fair?

Dog whistle politics: coded messages in electoral campaigns, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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The Importance of The Electoral College

The strengths and weaknesses of the college in the usa, favor of abolishing the electoral college, critique of the electoral college in the united states today, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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The Electoral College Should Be Revamped to Make America Stronger

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How Democratic is The Constitution and is There a Need for The Removal of The Electoral College

Why we should keep the electoral college, why we should keep the electoral college in america, should electoral college be abolished dbq.

The United States Electoral College is the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of appointing the president and vice president.

Each state appoints electors pursuant to the methods described by its legislature, equal in number to its congressional delegation (senators and representatives). Of the current 538 electors, an absolute majority of 270 or more electoral votes is required to elect the president and vice president. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority there, a contingent election is held by the United States House of Representatives to elect the president, and by the United States Senate to elect the vice president.

On five occasions, the winner of the popular vote did not capture the presidency. Two states, Nebraska and Maine, do not have winner-take-all systems. A similar electoral college was previously used by the Holy Roman Empire. Electors are prohibited from meeting in one central location. On rare occasions, electors do not vote as pledged.

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electoral college essay thesis

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Rand Paul: If we believe in limited government, we must save the Electoral College. USA Today Paul, Rand December 19, 2022

National Popular Vote Compact Would Disenfranchise Smaller and Rural States The Daily Signal Bollin, Ann June 22, 2021

The Electoral College By Dawn’s Early Light Claremont Review of Books DeMuth, Christopher Winter 2020-2021

Scrap the Electoral College? Open a Legal Pandora’s Box. Jefferson Journal, Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Haner, Stephen January 13, 2021

The Electoral College Saved the Election ( PDF ) Wall Street Journal DeMuth, Christopher January 8, 2021

Today, the Electoral College picks a U.S. president and shows us why we need it NJ.com Drake, Ian December 14, 2020

In Defense of the Electoral College First Things England, Trent December 13, 2020

The Electoral College continues to serve the national interest Virginian-Pilot Maibach, Michael and Dr. Patrick Garry December 2, 2020

Will Virginia Reject American Federalism? Jefferson Policy Journal Maibach, Michael December 2020

Why The Electoral College Is Still Good For The United States The Federalist Bruneau, Richard November 19, 2020

Beware of The National Popular Vote Bill In Richmond   ( PDF ) The Roanoke Star Maibach, Michael and John Hendrickson August 31, 2020

“ Editorial: Preserve the Electoral College ” ( PDF ) Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star March 5, 2020

“The Man Who Saved the Electoral College” National Affairs DeMuth, Christopher Winter 2020

“Like it or not, faithless electors have a right to be unfaithful” The Washington Post Will, George F. December 4, 2019

“Will Virginia’s Presidential Vote be Cast by New York and California?” Jefferson Policy Journal Haner, Stephen D. November 18, 2019

“Did Founder James Wilson Oppose Electoral College, Favor ‘National Popular Vote?’” The Epoch Times Natelson, Rob October 10, 2019

“The Electoral College–Does It Matter” The Epoch Times Gregg, Gary L. September 26, 2019

“The Electoral College–After the People Vote” The Epoch Times Gregg, Gary L. September 18, 2019

“Why the Electoral College Should Be Preserved” The Ripon Forum Walner, James September 17, 2019

“How the Electoral College Vote Works Today” The Epoch Times Gregg, Gary L. September 11, 2019

“The Evolution of the Electoral College” The Epoch Times Gregg, Gary L. August 28, 2019

“The Origins of the Electoral College” The Epoch Times Gregg, Gary L. August 21, 2019

“Maine and Nevada Show Why the Electoral College Helps Small States, Not Red States “ The Daily Signal von Spakovsky, Hans July 19, 2019

“The Plot to Undermine the Electoral College” Law & Liberty Drake, Ian J. July 18, 2019

“Presidential Popular Vote Compact Would Lead to Chaos” The Hill Parnell, Sean July 13, 2019

“The Danger of the Attacks on the Electoral College” Imprimis , Hillsdale College England, Trent June, 2019

“Hillary Deserved to Lose, the Electoral College Deserves to Stay” Oklahoma Center of Public Affairs England, Trent May 16, 2019

“How the Electoral College Squelches Faction” American Greatness Ross, Jason April 17, 2019

Abolishing the Electoral College Is a Bad Idea FreedomWorks Pye, Jason March 19, 2019

“The Electoral College Debate” Townhall Williams, Walter E. October 17, 2018

“ Electoral Masterpiece ” The Weekly Standard Anderson, Jeffrey December 23, 2016

“In Defense of the Electoral College” The Associated Press Guelzo, Allen and Hulme, James November 20, 2016

“An Alternative to the Electoral College Vote” Oxford University Press OUPblog Drake, Ian J. November 20, 2016

“In Defense of the Electoral College” National Endowment for the Humanities Maibach, Michael C. November 2016

“In Praise of the Electoral College” The Globalist Maibach, Michael C. July 31, 2016

“In Praise of the Electoral College” Town Square Delaware Maibach, Michael C. February 17, 2016

“In Praise of Electoral College” Caesar Rodney Institute Maibach, Michael C. September 12, 2015

“Destroying the Electoral College: The Anti-Federalist National Popular Vote Scheme” Heritage Foundation von Spakovsky, Hans October 27, 2011

“Popular Presidential Vote Subverts Constitution” Washington Times Ryder, John June 2, 2011

“In Praise of the Electoral College” Alexandria Times Maibach, Michael C. October 23, 2008

“Is the Electoral College Passé?” Ashbrook Center, Ashland University Schramm, Peter November 2004

“As the Electoral College Goes, So Goes the Constitution” Claremont Review of Books Uhlmann, Michael Winter 2001

“ Don’t Knock the Electoral College ” Eagle Forum Phyllis Schlafly November 29, 2000

“Yes, We Do Need the Electoral College” Peninsula Times Tribune Maibach, Michael C. December 16, 1984

“The Electoral College: In Defense of An Imperfect College” Ripon Forum Maibach, Michael C. May 1, 1977

“A Defense of the Electoral College” Peoria Star Journal Maibach, Michael C. December 19, 1976

“ A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come” The New York Times Kristol, Irving and Paul Weaver November 23, 1969

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Jamelle Bouie

When ‘Stop the Steal’ Becomes Your Motto

A man with his back to us, wearing a red MAGA hat (Donald Trump), looks over a crowd waving signs and flags, with the ocean and a gray sky behind it.

By Jamelle Bouie

Opinion Columnist

There is a good chance that Donald Trump’s polling lead in the 2024 presidential election is more fragile than it looks.

The most immediate problem for him is the fact that he’s on trial in a criminal case. Even if Trump isn’t convicted, the trial keeps him away from the trail.

There is also the issue of the campaign itself, which is a smaller affair than his 2020 effort, with fewer resources. “The situation has alarmed G.O.P. officials in key states, like Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, who have yet to receive promised funding, staff or even briefings on the new plans since the Trump team took control of the Republican National Committee in March,” The Washington Post reports .

Trump could very well hold his lead through the summer and into the fall but still fail to turn stated preferences into actual votes. What looks solid in the numbers could turn out to be ephemeral in the final tallies.

It’s much too early to say whether the polls are right or wrong. What we can say, however, is that the former president and his allies are already laying the foundation for an effort to contest — or even try to overturn — the results of the November election if voters don’t return Trump to the White House.

For Trump, a man who seems to live in the eternal present, “stop the steal” never actually ended. He maintains, as he did on Nov. 3, 2020, that he won the presidential election that put Joe Biden in the White House. Last month, he told an audience in Wisconsin , “We won this state by a lot.” (He lost it by 20,682 votes.) He told Time magazine, in a recent interview , that he “wouldn’t feel good” about hiring anyone who believed that Biden was the legitimate winner of the last presidential election. Asked if he would accept the results of the 2024 election, Trump said that he would , “if everything’s honest.”

Of course, for Trump, if he doesn’t win, then it isn’t honest.

But it isn’t just Trump priming Republican voters to reject the results of the November election if Biden prevails. His allies are doing the same.

Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio told CNN on Sunday that in a “free and fair election” he, and every other Republican, “will enthusiastically accept the results.” Meaning that if Trump does not win, then the election will not have been free and fair. Vance, who is so eager to serve as running mate to Trump that he made a pilgrimage on Monday to the Manhattan courthouse where the former president is on trial for paying hush money to cover up his affair with a porn star, has also said that if he were vice president in 2020, he would have told states to submit alternate slates of electors.

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York has said that she will accept the results if they are “constitutional,” and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has said that he will accept them if “there’s no massive cheating.”

Now what, for this crowd, would constitute an unfair, unfree, unconstitutional election in which the results were shaped by “massive cheating”?

Recall that after the 2016 presidential election, Trump blamed a wave of illegal voting for his popular-vote defeat. “In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,” he said on Twitter.

Illegal voting was a useful boogeyman for a president-elect who ran on the fantasy that the United States had been besieged by illegal immigrants. It remains a useful boogeyman as the former president revs up his supporters with spittle-flecked attacks on immigrants, who he says are “poisoning the blood of our country.” If one set of Trump allies is spreading the notion of an unfair election, another set is building out what that might mean by placing the specter of illegal voting by migrants and undocumented immigrants at the center of their rhetorical agenda.

“We all know intuitively that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections, but it’s not been something that is easily provable,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said last week at a news conference he called to support a new bill that would bar undocumented immigrants from voting in federal elections. This is already illegal under existing federal law, but Johnson insisted on the measure as necessary prevention in the face of uncertain information.

Johnson, who voted in 2021 to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, was joined at the news conference by Representative Chip Roy of Texas and Senator Mike Lee of Utah, two so-called constitutional conservatives who initially urged the White House to try to contest and overturn the 2020 results in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6. “We owe it to ourselves, to each other, most importantly to the American people, to make sure that those making decisions on behalf of our government and who’s going to serve in government in elective office are indeed empowered to make those decisions,” Lee said, validating the fiction that recent American elections have been shaped, even stolen, by rampant illegal voting.

Also present was Stephen Miller, the MAGA apparatchik behind some of the former president’s most viciously anti-immigrant rhetoric, who railed against noncitizen voting in characteristically apocalyptic fashion. “Democracy in America is under attack,” he said of the “wide-open border and obstruction of any effort to verify the citizenship of who votes in our elections.”

With all of this we are getting a first look, of sorts, at the next “stop the steal.” Yes, Trump could win the November election outright, in which case there is no need for an elaborate conspiracy to explain the results. The election, as Senator Vance said, will have been “free and fair.”

But let’s say Biden recovers lost ground. Let’s say he wins the Electoral College with narrow victories in key swing states, as he did in 2020. Let’s say that a few of those margins are exceptionally slim — a few thousand votes here, a few thousand votes there. We know what will come next. Trump will cry out “illegal voting” and most of the Republican Party will follow suit. They’ll say that Democrats encouraged it with “open borders” and demand that states overturn the results. And Trump, notably, has not ruled out the use of violence to get what he wants.

If the Republican Party could, for a moment, break itself from Trump’s influence, it would see that there’s a much easier explanation here: that Trump, for all of his bombast, is not actually an electoral juggernaut and that the solution to this problem is just to put him out to pasture.

Most of the time, when their standard-bearers can’t close the deal with the voting public, American political parties move on. Not so with this Republican Party. It can neither move on from Trump nor accept that he’s a divisive and unpopular figure for a large part of the American public.

Some of this, it’s true, comes from the fact that much of the party is caught in the snare of the former president’s cult of personality. But some of it runs much deeper. The Republican Party never moved on from Nixon’s “silent majority,” from the notion that it alone represents the supposedly authentic people of the United States. Democrats, no matter how many votes they get or how many elections they win, cannot, in this view, legitimately claim to represent the nation.

From the Tea Party to Mitt Romney’s “ 47 percent ” to Trump’s make-believe tales of fraud and illegal voting, Republicans treat Democratic voters and Democratic majorities as not quite right — not quite real, not quite American. No matter how many votes they earn or how many elections they win, Democrats cannot, in this view, legitimately claim to represent the nation.

We should not expect a Biden victory, if it comes, to end the threat to American democracy. With or without Trump, a Republican Party that cannot share this country with its political opponents is a Republican Party that will always look for one way or another to stop the steal.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here's our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Jamelle Bouie became a New York Times Opinion columnist in 2019. Before that he was the chief political correspondent for Slate magazine. He is based in Charlottesville, Va., and Washington. @ jbouie

electoral college essay thesis

Home News Highlights Best of AP — Honorable Mention AP offers all-formats look at the affirmative action ruling’s impact on college essays

Best of AP — Honorable Mention

AP offers all-formats look at the affirmative action ruling’s impact on college essays

Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person.” AP PHOTO / CHARLES REX ARBOGAST

AP24081452423397 (1)

By COLLIN BINKLEY, ANNIE MA AND NOREEN NASIR

The Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action left the college essay as one of the few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. To capture the impact on the ruling for students applying to college, Collin Binkley, Annie Ma and Noreen Nasir interviewed several students who spoke of how much was riding on the writing assignment.

Some changed their essays to emphasize race even if other experiences felt more central to their lives, and some described feeling pressure to exploit their hardships. Most powerfully, the students read their final essays on camera. In video shot and produced by Nasir, they shared intimate details about their relationship with their natural hair or the feeling of finding solidarity in a leadership group of students that look like them.

The story ran on front pages of newspapers in Decatur, Ill.; Mattoon, Ill.; Westerly, R.I.; and Chattanooga, Tenn., and AP member newsrooms accessed the story over 500 times.

Visit AP.org to request a trial subscription to AP’s video, photo and text services. For breaking news, visit apnews.com .

Submission Links

By The Associated Press

APRIL 5, 2024

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Your Best College Essay

Maybe you love to write, or maybe you don’t. Either way, there’s a chance that the thought of writing your college essay is making you sweat. No need for nerves! We’re here to give you the important details on how to make the process as anxiety-free as possible.

student's hands typing on a laptop in class

What's the College Essay?

When we say “The College Essay” (capitalization for emphasis – say it out loud with the capitals and you’ll know what we mean) we’re talking about the 550-650 word essay required by most colleges and universities. Prompts for this essay can be found on the college’s website, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application. We’re not talking about the many smaller supplemental essays you might need to write in order to apply to college. Not all institutions require the essay, but most colleges and universities that are at least semi-selective do.

How do I get started?

Look for the prompts on whatever application you’re using to apply to schools (almost all of the time – with a few notable exceptions – this is the Common Application). If one of them calls out to you, awesome! You can jump right in and start to brainstorm. If none of them are giving you the right vibes, don’t worry. They’re so broad that almost anything you write can fit into one of the prompts after you’re done. Working backwards like this is totally fine and can be really useful!

What if I have writer's block?

You aren’t alone. Staring at a blank Google Doc and thinking about how this is the one chance to tell an admissions officer your story can make you freeze. Thinking about some of these questions might help you find the right topic:

  • What is something about you that people have pointed out as distinctive?
  • If you had to pick three words to describe yourself, what would they be? What are things you’ve done that demonstrate these qualities?
  • What’s something about you that has changed over your years in high school? How or why did it change?
  • What’s something you like most about yourself?
  • What’s something you love so much that you lose track of the rest of the world while you do it?

If you’re still stuck on a topic, ask your family members, friends, or other trusted adults: what’s something they always think about when they think about you? What’s something they think you should be proud of? They might help you find something about yourself that you wouldn’t have surfaced on your own.  

How do I grab my reader's attention?

It’s no secret that admissions officers are reading dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of essays every day. That can feel like a lot of pressure to stand out. But if you try to write the most unique essay in the world, it might end up seeming forced if it’s not genuinely you. So, what’s there to do? Our advice: start your essay with a story. Tell the reader about something you’ve done, complete with sensory details, and maybe even dialogue. Then, in the second paragraph, back up and tell us why this story is important and what it tells them about you and the theme of the essay.

THE WORD LIMIT IS SO LIMITING. HOW DO I TELL A COLLEGE MY WHOLE LIFE STORY IN 650 WORDS?

Don’t! Don’t try to tell an admissions officer about everything you’ve loved and done since you were a child. Instead, pick one or two things about yourself that you’re hoping to get across and stick to those. They’ll see the rest on the activities section of your application.

I'M STUCK ON THE CONCLUSION. HELP?

If you can’t think of another way to end the essay, talk about how the qualities you’ve discussed in your essays have prepared you for college. Try to wrap up with a sentence that refers back to the story you told in your first paragraph, if you took that route.

SHOULD I PROOFREAD MY ESSAY?

YES, proofread the essay, and have a trusted adult proofread it as well. Know that any suggestions they give you are coming from a good place, but make sure they aren’t writing your essay for you or putting it into their own voice. Admissions officers want to hear the voice of you, the applicant. Before you submit your essay anywhere, our number one advice is to read it out loud to yourself. When you read out loud you’ll catch small errors you may not have noticed before, and hear sentences that aren’t quite right.

ANY OTHER ADVICE?

Be yourself. If you’re not a naturally serious person, don’t force formality. If you’re the comedian in your friend group, go ahead and be funny. But ultimately, write as your authentic (and grammatically correct) self and trust the process.

And remember, thousands of other students your age are faced with this same essay writing task, right now. You can do it!

electoral college essay thesis

What Is a Capstone Project vs. Thesis

electoral college essay thesis

As students near the end of their academic journey, they encounter a crucial project called the capstone – a culmination of all they've learned. But what exactly is a capstone project? 

This article aims to demystify capstone projects, explaining what they are, why they matter, and what you can expect when you embark on this final academic endeavor.

Capstone Project Meaning

A capstone project is a comprehensive, culminating academic endeavor undertaken by students typically in their final year of study. 

It synthesizes their learning experiences, requiring students to apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies gained throughout their academic journey. A capstone project aims to address a real-world problem or explore a topic of interest in depth. 

As interdisciplinary papers, capstone projects encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. They allow students to showcase their mastery of their field of study and demonstrate their readiness for future academic or professional pursuits.

Now that we’ve defined what is a capstone project, let’s discuss its importance in the academic landscape. In case you have short-form compositions to handle, simply say, ‘ do my essay for me ,’ and our writers will take care of your workload.

Why Is a Capstone Project Important

A capstone project is crucial because it allows students to combine everything they've learned in school and apply it to real-life situations or big problems. 

It's like the ultimate test of what they know and can do. By working on these projects, students get hands-on experience, learn to think critically and figure out how to solve tough problems. 

Plus, it's a chance to show off their skills and prove they're ready for whatever comes next, whether that's starting a career or going on to more schooling.

Never Written Capstones Before?

Professional writers across dozens of subjects can help you right now.

What Is the Purpose of a Capstone Project

Here are three key purposes of a capstone project:

What Is the Purpose of a Capstone Project

Integration of Knowledge and Skills

Capstones often require students to draw upon the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their academic program. The importance of capstone project lies in helping students synthesize what they have learned and apply it to a real-world problem or project. 

This integration helps students demonstrate their proficiency and readiness for graduation or entry into their chosen profession.

Culmination of Learning

Capstone projects culminate a student's academic journey, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

tackling a significant project or problem, students demonstrate their understanding of concepts and their ability to translate them into practical solutions, reinforcing their learning journey.

Professional Development

Capstone projects allow students to develop skills relevant to their future careers. These projects can also be tangible examples of their capabilities to potential employers or graduate programs.

Whether it's conducting research, presenting findings, or collaborating with peers, students gain valuable experience that enhances their professional readiness. 

Types of Capstone Projects

Capstones vary widely depending on the academic discipline, institution, and specific program requirements. Here are some common types:

What Is the Difference Between a Thesis and a Capstone Project

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between a thesis and a capstone project:

How to Write a Capstone Project

Let's dive into the specifics with actionable and meaningful steps for writing a capstone project:

1. Select a Pertinent Topic

Identify a topic that aligns with your academic interests, program requirements, and real-world relevance. Consider issues or challenges within your field that merit further exploration or solution. 

Conduct thorough research to ensure the topic is both feasible and significant. Here are some brilliant capstone ideas for your inspiration.

2. Define Clear Objectives

Clearly articulate the objectives of your capstone project. What specific outcomes do you aim to achieve? 

Whether it's solving a problem, answering a research question, or developing a product, ensure your objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

3. Conduct Comprehensive Research

Dive deep into existing literature, theories, and empirical evidence related to your chosen topic. Identify gaps, controversies, or areas for further investigation. 

Synthesize relevant findings and insights to inform the development of your project and provide a solid foundation for your analysis or implementation.

4. Develop a Structured Plan

What is a capstone project in college without a rigid structure? Outline a comprehensive plan for your capstone project, including key milestones, tasks, and deadlines. 

Break down the project into manageable phases, such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and presentation. Establish clear criteria for success and regularly monitor progress to stay on track.

5. Implement Methodological Rigor

If your project involves research, ensure methodological rigor by selecting appropriate research methods, tools, and techniques. 

Develop a detailed research design or project plan that addresses key methodological considerations, such as sampling, data collection, analysis, and validity. Adhere to ethical guidelines and best practices throughout the research process.

6. Analyze and Interpret Findings

Analyze your data or findings using appropriate analytical techniques and tools. Interpret the results in relation to your research questions or objectives, highlighting key patterns, trends, or insights. 

Critically evaluate the significance and implications of your findings within the broader context of your field or industry.

7. Communicate Effectively

Present your capstone project clearly, concisely, and compellingly. Whether it's a written report, presentation, or multimedia deliverable, tailor your communication style to your target audience. Clearly articulate your research questions, methodology, findings, and conclusions. 

Use visuals, examples, and real-world applications to enhance understanding and engagement. Be prepared to defend your project and answer questions from peers, faculty, or stakeholders.

In wrapping up, what is a capstone project? It’s like the grand finale of your academic journey, where all the knowledge and skills you've acquired come together in one big project. 

It's not just about passing a test or getting a grade – it's about proving you've got what it takes to make a real difference in the world. So, if you ever need capstone project help , our writers will gladly lend you a hand in no time.

Due Date Is Just Around the Corner?

Streamline the writing progress with our expert service!

What Is a Capstone Project in College?

How to do a capstone project, how long does a capstone project take to complete.

Annie Lambert

Annie Lambert

specializes in creating authoritative content on marketing, business, and finance, with a versatile ability to handle any essay type and dissertations. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for social issues, her writing not only educates but also inspires action. On EssayPro blog, Annie delivers detailed guides and thought-provoking discussions on pressing economic and social topics. When not writing, she’s a guest speaker at various business seminars.

electoral college essay thesis

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

  • T. (2023, June 16). What Is a Capstone Project? National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/what-is-a-capstone-project/
  • Lukins, S. (2024, May 12). What is a capstone project? And why is it important? Top Universities. https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice-articles/what-capstone-project-why-it-important
  • Capstone Project vs. Thesis: What’s the Difference? (2021, December 9). UAGC. https://www.uagc.edu/blog/capstone-project-vs-thesis-whats-difference

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IMAGES

  1. Example Of The US Electoral College Essay

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  2. Electoral College Essay Assignment by Curt's Journey

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  3. A Closer Look at the Electoral College with Argumentative Essay

    electoral college essay thesis

  4. How to Write an Electoral College Essay: Example and Tips

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  5. How Works Electoral College

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  6. Electoral College Essay

    electoral college essay thesis

COMMENTS

  1. The Electoral College

    The Electoral College is a group of selected voters who have the power to elect a candidate into a specific office. In the United States, the Electoral College is responsible for electing the president and vice president into the office (Sabato, 207). The constitution of the United States specifies the number of electors each state should have.

  2. PDF Chapter One: the Constitutional Intent for Electoral College Electors

    Electoral College rules where electors cast two ballots, it was possible that George Washington and his intended vice president—John Adams—could receive an equal amount of electoral votes. If these men tied in the Electoral College, the election would be sent to the House of Representatives to elect the President.15 In preparation for this,

  3. It's time to abolish the Electoral College

    Support for direct popular election. For years, a majority of Americans have opposed the Electoral College. For example, in 1967, 58 percent favored its abolition, while in 1981, 75 percent of ...

  4. Electoral College Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

    26 essay samples found. The Electoral College is a mechanism of indirect election in which electors choose the President and Vice President of the United States. Essays on the Electoral College could delve into its origins, functioning, and the controversies surrounding its continued use. Moreover, discussions might explore alternative ...

  5. PDF Arguments for the Electoral College

    Electoral College has encouraged and helps to maintain a two- party system in the United States. This is true simply because it is extremely difficult for a new or minor party to win enough popular votes in enough States to have a chance of winning the presidency. Even if they won enough electoral votes to force the decision into the U.S.

  6. The Electoral College Explained

    The Electoral College has racist origins — when established, it applied the three-fifths clause, which gave a long-term electoral advantage to slave states in the South — and continues to dilute the political power of voters of color. It incentivizes presidential campaigns to focus on a relatively small number of "swing states.".

  7. Picking the President: Understanding the Electoral College

    the Electoral College. Essays of this sort are much-needed, for the post-election di-alogue about the Electoral College has been warped by partisan-ship. Republicans who reckon that Electoral College benefits their party usually have defended the system. Conversely, Democrats, smarting from the fact that in a span of sixteen years they have

  8. "A Mystifying and Distorting Factor": The Electoral College and

    INTRODUCTION. As the 2020 presidential election made clear, the Electoral College is a profoundly dangerous institution. American constitutional democracy sur-vived that election and its aftermath, emerging battered and bruised but still standing.1 But the Electoral College is in large part to blame for how close it came to a fatal wound.

  9. The Electoral College: a Founding Compromise

    Thesis Statement Generator . Generate thesis statement for me . ... This essay about the Electoral College traces its origins back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, highlighting it as a compromise between electing a president by Congress or a direct vote from the people. It underscores the system's role in balancing concerns about ...

  10. Is the Electoral College a Problem? Does It Need to Be Fixed?

    2) The Electoral College ensures that different parts of the country, such as Iowa and Ohio, are involved in selecting the president, rather than just the most populated areas. 3) The Electoral ...

  11. 52 Electoral College Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Editorial on Electoral College Improvement. As such, it is common to find cases where the person who is defeated by the majority votes wins the election because they have the right number of the Electoral College. We will write. a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts. 812 writers online.

  12. The Importance of The Electoral College

    This essay will delve into the importance of the Electoral College, exploring its historical roots, its intended purpose, and its implications for modern-day elections. By examining the pros and cons of this system, we can gain a deeper understanding of its significance in shaping the outcomes of presidential elections and the overall political ...

  13. Free Electoral College Essays and Research Papers on

    Favor of Abolishing The Electoral College. 2 pages / 811 words. The Electoral College has been a cornerstone of the American electoral system since the inception of the United States. However, as time has passed, the system has faced growing criticism and calls for reform. This argumentative essay explores the potential benefits of abolishing ...

  14. Why We Should Abolish the Electoral College

    One thing is clear, though: The Electoral College as we have it now should go. Josh Chafetz is a law professor at Cornell, a visiting law professor at the University of Texas and the author, most ...

  15. Electoral College Thesis

    Decent Essays. 1079 Words. 5 Pages. Open Document. Electoral College. The Electoral College is the indirect election of the President of the United States. We, the people, vote for the president which determines the popular vote, but we don't truly elect the president, it just selects the electors so THEY choose the president.

  16. Electoral College Essays (Examples)

    Electoral College. PAGES 5 WORDS 2026. Electoral College. When the constitution of United States was framed there were discussions on various methods of selecting the President and the method of a direct popular vote was rejected. The reasons for rejection were the poor state of communications and the large distances in between the states.

  17. Argumentative Essay On Electoral College

    Argumentative Essay On Electoral College. 975 Words4 Pages. The Electoral College is the process to which the United States elects the President, and the Vice President. The founders of the Constitution came up with this process. This was done to give additional power to the small states, and it was done to satisfy them.

  18. PDF AP® United States Government and Politics

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  20. Essay On Electoral College

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  21. Electoral College Essay

    On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton via the Electoral College, 306 votes to 232 votes ("2016 Election Results"). Clinton, however, won the national popular vote by almost three million votes, leaving many Americans outraged. Outgoing Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) even attempted to. 1743 Words.

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  23. Essays

    Essays. Rand Paul: If we believe in limited government, we must save the Electoral College. USA Today. Paul, Rand. December 19, 2022. National Popular Vote Compact Would Disenfranchise Smaller and Rural States. The Daily Signal. Bollin, Ann. June 22, 2021.

  24. Opinion

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  26. Your Best College Essay

    When we say "The College Essay" (capitalization for emphasis - say it out loud with the capitals and you'll know what we mean) we're talking about the 550-650 word essay required by most colleges and universities. Prompts for this essay can be found on the college's website, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application.

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  28. What Is a Capstone Project vs. Thesis

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    A college education can represent a path toward a stable career, social and health benefits, or upward mobility for students. However, a large proportion of students who enroll in college fail to complete a degree. Despite the potential benefits of a college education, students encounter a number of barriers to college success.