newsobserver.com projects - College dropout? - Comments

Re: College dropout?

kmisegades — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:24:26 -0400

This is a very bad idea. Our Founding Fathers created the Electoral College knowing how simple it is to "gin up" an uninformed electorate. Since little has changed in this regard in 225 years, our country must retain the Electoral College, otherwise we'll see the mob rule that people such as John Adams rightly feared. Instead of this shameless attempt to circumvent our Constitution - the best in the world - I would advocate tougher qualifications for voters. For instance, only US citizens who pay income taxes may vote. And all must pass the same exam given to those seeking US citizenship, in English of course. Is it asking to much of our electorate to be literate, contribute to the funding of our government, and understand how it works as requirements to cast a vote? Kent Misegades, Cary, NC.

College dropout?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:28:48 -0400

A Senate bill would let North Carolina drop out of the Electoral College.

Under the legislation, the state would sign a multi-state pact to award all of its electors to the winner of the popular vote nationally. So far, only Maryland has approved the pact.

Under the system, Al Gore would have been elected president in 2000.

The pact is being pushed by the California-based National Popular Vote group as an end run around the need for a constitutional amendment, which would likely be blocked by smaller states that are disproportionately powerful under the current system.

A similar push for direct election of senators in the early 1900s required a constitutional amendment.

The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Daniel Clodfelter of Charlotte, Katie Dorsett of Guilford County and Eleanor Kinnaird of Carrboro.