An AOL Poll Shows....

While in college I took a class called the art of argument and my final argument of the class was to abolish the electoral college. During my research I found that four times in history the electoral college went against the popular vote. This I thought was ridiculous, four times presidents have been elected that shouldn't have been elected. So much money is spent on elections and I feel that it is a waste because if in the end our vote may or may not count then why have an election? Is it just to let the American people feel like they have a say in the government? If you read the history on the electoral college it was set up because the "Founders" thought the American people were not educated enough to decide who should be in charge of the country. It probably sounded good in 1787 (becoming part of the Constitution by the twelfth Amendment in 1804) when most generally people didn't finish grade school, but now that most of the population finishes high school and a lot attends higher learning aren't we educated enough to decide for ourselves? Throughout my research I found out that Finland abolished its electoral college and went to a direct election, other countries as well have done this. The electoral college seems very undemocratic in my personal opinion. Americans are educated enough to decide for themselves who would make a good president or wouldn't make a good president. I fully believe that we should have a direct election. If I am able to decide who I want to be my governor, senator, or congressman why shouldn't I be able to decide who should be president?

I think that it should be switched to popular vote. Yoru right "every vote should count". They tell us that every vote counts, but what they are really saying is that every vote counts in certain states. Truly counting each vote would give the nation what it deserves and what it voted for. But good luck in getting this changed.

I do not agree with the electoral college votes, nor do I think delegates or super delegates should get to choose for the entire state. I think all primaries or cacucus should all be held on the same day in all 50 states just like the November elections. The peoples voices should be heard. If there by chance is a 50/50 split then they should have the elected officals make the final decision. As I was writing that, a thought came to mind. What would happen if there was a 50/50 split would that in the end cause a civil war??? hmmm....

I think there should be a switch to popular vote. There is too much money wasted on campaigning!!

I have to agree, I wish it went by popular vote. I am in a red state, so my vote rarely counts on the national level. I still vote, but it's frustrating because I really do not count at all. And like one of the previous replies said, the electoral college has gone against the popular vote before which is wrong.

I think they should go by popular vote. I feel like i am being told that yes we will let you vote but if you aren't smart enough to agree we us it doesn't count. I also think that the candidates record should be published under numbers without identifying them and let the voters decide what their vote will be.Nobody should have to endure the aggravating, headache inspiring misery that Americans do at campaign time and all the billions of dollars that are wasted on campaign backstabbing and lying could be put toward the national debt.

Put me down as absolutely in favor of switching to the popular vote. The Electoral College is an antiquated idea which has long ago overstayed its welcome, it may have had a purpose two centuries ago when, as another poster said, most Americans were uneducated, but it's long since lost its usefulness. There have been many discussions on this so be prepared to hear from some who will argue until they're blue in the face that it's necessary to keep it but no matter how many times I hear or read the arguments I still feel it should be one person, one vote. Annie

i dont understand why they even have it any other way.. doesnt even make sense to me..