In November 2000, the country went through a ritual that takes place every four years. The people voted for the next President of the United States. Yet this would be an election that would stand out in the history books. For the first time since 1888, the winner of the popular election of the President lost the election in the Electoral College. As political analysis's argued through the situation, Americans wondered what was happening in their beloved system of democracy. Many asked how the system could fail so badly? With Al Gore, the Democratic candidate winning 50,996,582 popular votes, it seems natural that he should be elected President of the United States. George Bush, the Republican candidate, won only 50,456,062of the popular votes (National Archives and Records Administration). Yet what was natural did not happen. Instead, the Electoral College, a part of our government not understood by the average citizen, controlled the outcome of the election and declared George Bush the 43rd President of the United States. As the Presidential election then turned into a legal ping-pong game many American people were left asking themselves "Does my vote count?" This is not a new question. The debate surrounding the Electoral College and its purpose in America's system of government has been around since the Constitution was written in 1787. Representatives debated over its usefulness then and they do so today as well. Over the last two centuries, it has been proven four times that the Electoral College is a deterrent in democratic government. For the candidate to win the popular election and lose the most coveted office in the country is an atrocity that undermines our system of .
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government. The Electoral College is not advantageous towards the furtherment of democracy and should therefore be abolished in favor of a direct vote by the people.
The Electoral College was established during the Continental Congress in 1787 after much debate between the representatives.
