Several Senate Democrats have introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College system and replace it with a presidential election system where the winner of the popular vote would win the White House contest.
Sens. Dick Durbin, Brian Schatz, and Peter Welch sponsored the proposed amendment, arguing that the 18th century institution is outdated and disenfranchises millions of Americans. Durbin stated, “In an election, the person who gets the most votes should win. It’s that simple. No one’s vote should count for more based on where they live. The Electoral College is outdated and it’s undemocratic. It’s time to end it.”
Schatz added, “The American people deserve to choose all their leaders, and I am proud to support this effort with Senators Schatz and Welch to empower voters.”
In response, GOP Sen. Mike Lee called the proposal “a phenomenally bad idea,” and Rep. Andy Biggs branded the Senate Democrats as wanting “to trample the Constitution.”
The proposal comes as a reminder that the system is not always fair, with President-elect Donald Trump having won the Electoral College and popular vote in the 2020 election, while Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. The 2016 election remains the most recent example of a president winning the Electoral College but losing the national popular vote.
