The Guardian view on America’s electoral college: time to scrap an antidemocratic relic | Editorial

Concerns about US democracy grow with the electoral college's role in enabling presidents to win without the popular vote, potentially benefiting Donald Trump in 2024

The last two presidential elections have raised serious questions about the strength of American democracy and, unfortunately, Tuesday's election may deepen these concerns. Central to this issue is the electoral college, which allows Americans to elect their president indirectly through state-appointed electors. Though the electoral college has stirred controversy for more than 200 years, Donald Trump's 2016 victory - despite losing the popular vote by 3 million - intensified the sense that the system undermines democratic principles. It would be gut-wrenching to see the unhinged, vengeful and power-hungry Mr Trump win because of the electoral college's antidemocratic result.

Yet that might happen. Post-civil war, four presidents - all Republicans - have lost the popular vote yet won the White House via the electoral college. Mr Trump's 2024 campaign has seemed intent on repeating this feat or creating enough chaos to push the election to the House of Representatives, where Republican delegations are likely to prevail. His strategy relies on divisive rhetoric, marked by inflammatory and often discriminatory themes. Rather than bridging divides, he aims to deepen them - seeking an electoral college win by rallying his most fervent supporters.

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