Feb 20, 2016 2 min read

I find it interesting that, although many people are talking about presidential candidates who hold extreme views or are unqualified, no one has mentioned the Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, created the Electoral College. The purpose of the Electoral College is to prevent such a candidate from becoming president.

The Founding Fathers did not want a popular election for president. They feared the process would become corrupt. Thus, the Electoral College was created in the event an unqualified but popular candidate was elected. The state delegates to the Electoral College are not required by the Constitution to cast their votes for the candidate elected by the majority of voters in that state. However, some states have passed laws requiring them to do so.

It would be political suicide for a delegate to switch votes, but it does happen. In 1820, a single delegate switched his vote to preserve the tradition that George Washington would be the only president to be unanimously elected. Think of the uproar that would result if the Electoral College did that in this day of 24-hour news, social media and political polarization.

I wonder if James Madison and the rest of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 would think any of the current candidates are the best qualified?

Gary Ford

Washington