Overcoming the Unit Rule: 2008 Remix (Part II)

As promised, below are the electoral results had we used two of our alternate scenarios.

First scenario is the Straight Up Allocation, where states award electoral votes based solely on the proportion of popular vote earned by a given candidate. In 2008, the election would have been much closer because the electoral vote would have almost exactly reflected the national popular vote differential. However, Obama still would have achieved a clear majority of electoral votes.

STRAIGHT UP
ALLOCATION
Electoral Vote EV (%) Popular Vote (%)
Obama/Biden 283 52.6% 52.6%
McCain/Palin 255 47.4% 46.1%


The second scenario is Winner-Take-Some, where the congressional district electoral votes are awarded based on the percentage of the statewide vote (i.e. Obama gets 55% of the 19 electoral votes from PA). And the two senatorial electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the statewide popular vote (i.e. Obama gets two more votes in PA for winning popular vote). The election results here are still closer than the actualy 2008 results, but not as close as in our first scenario. Obama is rewarded for winning more states than McCain by building up those two senatorial electors across the country. However, the number does not reflect the popular vote differential as closely.

WINNER-TAKE-SOME
Electoral Vote EV (%) Popular Vote (%)
Obama/Biden 291 54.1% 52.6%
McCain/Palin 247 45.9% 46.1%


These results are interesting, at the least, and telling at the most. They possibly reveal an Electoral College that is more responsive to each individual vote. I am partial to the Winner-Take-Some Allocation over the Straight-Up Allocation, because there needs to more incentive for winners of states then in a direct proportion to the popular vote. It also allows for a greater probability of a majority winner.

However, I do not feel that state parties would accept these reforms, as discussed in Chapter Three. At the very least, it is interesting to see our democratic system through the lens of alternative scenarios.

- Wyatt