Evaluate The View That The Presidential Election Process Requires Reform.(30)

Question 1

Para 1 - The Primary Process
- For: The Presidential Election Process Does Require Reform

Answer 1

• The primary process is unnecessarily long which undermines democracy by making it much likely rich candidates will be chosen
• Primary process requires significant funding as candidates must fund sophisticated numbers of staff, and advertising in order to campaign effectively in a range of states
  – (Example): In the 2016 Democratic primary, for example, a key reason for Clinton’s success was her ability to out raise her opponents, generating around 250 million$

Question 2

Para 2 - Is The Electoral College Undemocratic?
- For: The Presidential Election Process Does Require Reform

Answer 2

• Electoral college is outdated and undermines democracy in the US.
• The Presidential Election winner has to win the most electoral college votes, rather than the most votes overall, candidate can win the Presidency whilst losing the popular vote.
  –(Example): 2016 and 2020, Trump won all 29 of Florida’s electoral votes by winning the state’s popular vote

Question 2

Para 1 - The Primary Process
- Against: The Presidential Election Process Doesn’t Require Reform

Answer 2

• Primary’s are highly democratic, allowing voters to select their party’s nominees and choose between parties.
• Directly involved in selection process and forcing candidates to appeal to party members and voters in order to become a presidential nominee
  –(Example): Trump was able to win nomination due to primary process. First republican candidate after winning big support through his America FIRST Approach and populist style displayed in TV debates.

Question 3

Para 2 - Is The Electoral College Undemocratic?
- Against: The Presidential Election Process Doesn’t Require Reform

Answer 3

• The winner-takes-all system to declare how their electoral college votes are divided means third-party candidates have no chance, and unlikely to win.
• This means that electoral college system provides a clear winner if no candidate has majority support from population, as they can win a majority of electoral seats
  –(Example): Independent Ros Perot got 19% of the vote across the country in 1992, but it translated to 0 electoral college votes,
  – 2016 - Republic and Democrat = 94.3% of the vote, 2020 = 98.1%

Question 4

Paragraph Three ➡️ Does The Electoral College Create Inequality
Between States?
- For: The Presidential Election Process Does Require Reform

Answer 4

• The weight of a vote can vary significantly between states, based on the size of the state. Voters in a smaller state have more say.
  –(Example): Wyoming has more weight in Electoral college than vote in California, - unequal representation
  – California is over 60x bigger than Wyoming in population, but only receives 18x more electoral college votes