Resolved: The Electoral College Should Be Abolished

Please read the comments before voting. Thank you.My text is bold, my opponent's is not.--Plan: The Electoral College should remain in effect. That means the system which awards a certain number of electors to each state, with each state casting its electors for one presidential candidate and one vice presidential candidate.Reason 1: It represents America's unique political system.America is a a republic, not a democracy, and that America is fundamentally a nation of states, not a nation divided into provinces. The Electoral College represents both.Unique political systems are not what make a country survive. Soviet Russian communism was a unique political system. The European Union is a unique political system. One has failed, the other is failing. America is a democracy just as much as it is a republic. Senator and house of rep votes are democratic. Reason 2: Third parties are actually relevant.Unlike in a popular vote system - where third parties rarely win anything, let along place highly - the Electoral College allows third parties to play a crucial role and bring issues to the forefront of public awareness.Third parties have not won a single electoral vote, ever. Therefore, they are irrelevant under the current system.Reason 3: It requires candidates to campaign nationwide rather than in their zones of supportTo have a shot to win, candidates must not just campaign in urban areas, they must campaign across the entire nation. Without the electoral college, smaller states would be ignored entirely.Candidates now are campaigning in small states whereas urban populations are a larger sample and therefore would represent the population better.Reason 4: It moderates candidatesRather than just having to appeal to their base, candidates must appeal to all voters and present a more moderate image.Candidates would need to be more moderate under a popular vote system because they must appear to outshine multiple candidates instead of just one. The electoral college encourages radicalization because there are only two relevant parties.Reason 5: It can be adapted easily in the event of the death of a candidateIf a winning candidate dies in the popular vote, there would have to be another election. Under the Electoral College, electors could preserve the continuity of government by selecting another person such as the VP.The electoral college is not in charge of the order of succession. The order of succession is defined in the Constitution.Reason 6: The Electoral College is far more flexible than popular voteThe Electoral College can be adopted to almost anything - including popular vote. The first step would be abolishing the electoral college as it is now. --Rebuttals: Neg ContentionsMy opponent contends that popular vote was not a priority during the first years of America as a nation and therefore deems it less relevant than an electoral vote that we have today but fails to realize that, under the same logic, women and non-white men do not deserve to vote, freedom of speech should be lost, and a poll tax would be brought back. This point is irrelevant.My opponent contends that candidates would focus on urban areas however fails to realize that candidates now are focusing on swing states with less population and less diversity than urban areas which provide a less accurate voice of the country than the positive urban areas that my opponent contends candidates would focus on.My opponent contends that third party candidates receive better representation under the electoral college but fails to recognize that third party candidates have never won electoral votes.My opponent contends that the electoral college discourages extremism but fails to realize that it actually encourages extremism. Candidates have the support of their party and need not directly outshine the other candidates because the other candidate has different views. My opponent contends that the EC can be changed to a popular vote however fails to realize that the EC now is not a popular vote system and that is directly what the pro is advocating. This point should be given to the pro.--2ACContention 5: The Electoral College decreases the quality of candidatesSince candidates are now competing against anyone, not just the other party, there are fewer differences between the views of candidates. Therefore, candidates work harder to outshine each other. With many choices, competition is increased. This increased competition along with harder-working candidates leads to more productive candidates and a more productive society.Contention 6: The Electoral College sends negative views of the U.S. overseasAmerica is a symbol of freedom and representation. Foreigners look to America as a free country where everyone's ideas are represented. Essentially, America is a symbol of paradise for some, but for others, it is lies. Our "representation" is nothing because of the corruption. The Electoral College is part of the reason that America receives negative stereotypes overseas.Contention 7: The Electoral College puts too much stress on campaigningThe Electoral College system in place now forces candidates to spend large portions of their terms campaigning for the next one. For these regions I strongly urge a PRO ballot.