It’s been working for 230 years

Posted 11/2/17

To The Editor:  Recent letters to the editor debated the merits of our electoral process as opposed to election by popular vote. From a mathematical approach, California has 55 electoral votes, …

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It’s been working for 230 years

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To The Editor: Recent letters to the editor debated the merits of our electoral process as opposed to election by popular vote.From a mathematical approach, California has 55 electoral votes, which slightly exceeds the combined electoral votes of the 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have the least number of electoral votes. California has a population of 37.3 million which is about equal to that of 22 states, plus Washington, D.C., with the least population.With the electoral approach, California alone has the power to out-vote 30 percent of our other states. With the popular votes, California alone has the power to out-vote almost half of the rest of our country.Mrs. Clinton carried California by 3.5 million votes. Then add in her win in New York by 1.5 million votes. This gave her a popular votes majority of about 5 million, but from just two states. Her popular vote advantage nationwide was about 2.9 million.This means President Trump was preferred by 2.1 million voters in the other 48 states plus Washington, D.C. Thus the electoral process gave voice to the vast majority of our nation’s states as opposed to the will of just two states.The preamble to our nation’s Constitution starts with “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union . . .”For those happy and those unhappy with the recent presidential election, we are all part of a more perfect Union with justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare and blessings of liberty.What our country’s founders intended and created is working and has worked for almost 230 years.Paul Brautigam, Warrenton


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