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Tim Walz calls for scrapping of electoral college to decide US presidential race (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
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Kamala Harris’s running mate urges popular vote system but campaign says issue is not part of Democrats’ agenda

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, has called for the electoral college system of electing US presidents to be abolished and replaced with a popular vote principle, as operates in most democracies.

His comments – to an audience of party fundraisers – chime with the sentiments of a majority of American voters but risk destabilising the campaign of Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, who has not adopted a position on the matter, despite having previously voiced similar views.

"I think all of us know, the electoral college needs to go," Walz told donors at a gathering at the home of the California governor, Gavin Newsom. "We need a national popular vote. We need to be able to go into York, Pennsylvania, and win. We need to be in western Wisconsin and win. We need to be in Reno, Nevada, and win."

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[-] RaoulDook@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago

It's not like Walz or Harris can do anything about it anyway. Legal scholars have said that it would take a Constitutional amendment to change the electoral college system to anything else, as it is mandated by the Constitution.

Amending the Constitution requires ratification by 75% of the 50 US states after passing a 2/3 majority of Congress.

It's best to be realistic and not get worked up about things you can't do anything about.

[-] TheRealKuni@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago
[-] RaoulDook@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Did you have a comment reply to make? I'm not watching anybody's youtube link.

[-] TheRealKuni@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

There’s a way to circumvent the electoral college without a constitutional amendment. It’s called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. It’s in progress, but not triggered yet until a few more states adopt it.

If states totaling at least 270 electoral votes sign on, then it kicks in. Every state in the compact will send the electors for the party that wins the national popular vote, regardless of how their state votes. Electoral college rendered meaningless without a constitutional amendment.

(The video is good, it’s CGP Grey’s explanation of this compact.)

[-] RaoulDook@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Thanks

[-] Charlatan@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

That video is worth watching just for the LOLs, but also does a great job of explaining exactly how the whole thing works.

[-] Maeve@midwest.social 2 points 2 months ago

If you can keep the train of thought through ads.

[-] Maeve@midwest.social 3 points 2 months ago

Not like the dnc couldn't lean hard on party representatives to make them fall in line.

[-] exemplariasuntomni@lemmings.world 0 points 2 months ago

We are slaves to the ruling class forever then.

We really have nothing to lose in that case, and may as well do anything and everything to end the electoral college.

[-] RaoulDook@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago

I'm not a slave, I do whatever I want and life is great. Perhaps you should try just doing whatever the fuck you want to sometimes.

this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2024
1122 points (98.5% liked)

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