What did The Election of 2016 and 2015 Miss Universe Competition Have In Common? Accidents...

* WATCH THE VIDEO FIRST OR THIS WILL NOT BE AS FUNNY! *

Do not panic, I am okay but my iPAD is not...Likewise, one of the most thought provoking discussions in our world has resurfaced as a result of the 2016 Presidential Election. For those of you who live under a rock, Donald Trump, the winner of this election, lost the popular vote among the nation yet still won because of the Electoral College. *insert cricket noises because that’s so awkward... almost as awkward as when Steve Harvey announced the wrong Miss Universe?* Jokes aside, Trump’s claim to the presidency has sparked much uproar among the already divided political parties in which Democrats are calling to abolish the electoral system while Republicans demand the system’s preservation. I find this issue so compelling because the Electoral College was created by our Founding Fathers to ensure democracy, yet there is substantial evidence from history that proves it has done the opposite. Being a politically moderate individual with a love of politics, I look to this issue as an impending call to action in which I wish to further explore because it is an issue that keeps resurfacing. (I want it checked off the nation’s to do list so we can worry about more important issues like ending world hunger for the children)

Although I am not an expert on this surfacing issue, I wish to tackle it because it will only challenge me to grow into a more informed and educated citizen. I have already started to research and have since attained sufficient evidence to shape my belief that the electoral system should be amended through a compact; one that forces electors to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote within their state. (Ex: Trump won the popular vote in Texas so under this compact, the electors in the state of Texas would have no choice but to vote for Trump too) To my surprise, there is already a drafted compact known as the NPVIC (National Popular Vote Interstate Compact) that coincides with my belief, however it failed to meet the threshold of votes required for it to pass back in 2006. Highlighting the uproar that Trump’s election and presidency has splurged, it is finally time for the states that voted no on the compact to reconsider.

I know that I need to further develop my research from a variety of perspectives due to the controversiality surrounding this matter. I plan to develop my argument by researching the works of political scientists who have tackled this issue before me because it will lay the necessary foundation for my argument. I also desire to further my knowledge on the NPVIC as it sets my argument apart from the typical Democrat or Republican. While you may be politically apathetic and have no desire to care about my passion encompassing this issue, realize that we are entering an election year. And guess what, the President that wins this election will be in power when we graduate from Fairfield and scatter among all corners of the earth. If I were you, I would start caring about addressing this issue. Thus, my big question is, “Why does the current structure of the electoral college influence elections and need to be amended?”