What is direct popular voting?

Direct popular election, an election in which people vote directly for the candidate that they want. Popular vote, in an indirect election, is the total number of votes received in the first-phase election, as opposed to the votes cast by those elected to take part in the final election.

How does popular vote affect Electoral College?

When citizens cast their ballots for president in the popular vote, they elect a slate of electors. Electors then cast the votes that decide who becomes president of the United States. Usually, electoral votes align with the popular vote in an election.

What are the disadvantages of the Electoral College?

Disadvantage: Polarizes the Political System. The electoral college encourages a two-party system and rewards candidates who have broad appeal. A direct popular election would make it more possible for third-party candidates to succeed and would also encourage political parties to become more radical and extreme.

How does the Electoral College work in the United States?

Instead of a direct popular election, the United States has the Electoral College, a group of electors who represent each state’s votes. The Electoral College was established in the Constitution to protect minority interests and mitigate the possibility of a regional candidate.

What is the current balance of opinion about the Electoral College?

The current balance of opinion is little changed over the last few years. Attitudes about the Electoral College remain deeply divided along partisan lines.

Do levels of formal education shape political views on Electoral College?

A similar divide emerges across levels of formal education. Those with postgraduate degrees are somewhat more supportive of changing the system than those with less formal education. Partisan divides in views of the electoral college are most pronounced among those who pay the most attention to politics.