The herald., 1897-11-22
DEFECTS IN OUR ELECTORAL
SYSTEM


in the November Forum. points out
some dangerous defects in our electoral
system, with especial reference to the
choice of president and vice-president.
These defects are not new. They have
in times past severely tested our whole
system OF government. Because the lat
ter has withstood the test is plainly no
reason why the continuation Of the de-
fects should be permitted.
The twelfth amendment to the Consti-
tuition prescribing the mode of electing
the president and vice-president has
been in force ninety-four years. 1t was
designed originally to avoid the dangers
and difficulties disclosed in the contest
between Mr. Jefferson and Mr.. Burr in
1901. but it has never been regarded as
an entirely satisfactory adjustment. At
tempts to change the plan have been
made but none have succeeded, while
for many years the subject has been
practically let alone by congress.
Mr.. Carlisle says it is almost marvel
Gus that for so long q period we have
been able to secure a regular and peace
able succession of presidents and vice.
presidents In no other country would
such a system have failed to produce
civil dissensions of the most dangerous
character: "and we shall be fortunate
indeed if in view of the growing impor-
tance of the offices to be filled We con-
tinue much longer to enjoy immunity
from such discords."
If no one person receives a majority of
the vote for president in the electoral
college the election goes to the house of
representatives. The house chooses the
president from the three persons having
the highest numbers Of votes. each state
having one vote. If. however, owing to
the multiplicity of electoral tickets it
should happen that more than three
presidential candidates should receive
the highest and an equal number of
votes there could be no constitutional
election by the house of representatives
because under the constitution not more
than three persons can be voted for in
that body. 1t would be then impossible
to proceed in accordance with the re-
quirements CT the Constitution. Similar
defects exist with regard to the election
of the vice-presdent by the senate, in
cases where no candidate receives ma
jority of the electoral college.
There is no uniform constitutional rule
for the selection of electors and there
have been frequent periods in our history
when three different methods were in op-
GRAFTON at the same time. There is temp
tation and danger in such condition.
There are forty-fve states in the
Union; and yet, under the prevailing
system, president and vice president
may be elected by q bare majority of the
votes, or even by plurality in twelve
states, being three less than one-third
of the whole number, although all the
people in all the other states may vote
for other persons. a president and vice.
president may be regularly and consti-
tutionally elected without receiving the
vote of either a majority of the states
or majority Of the people. 1t can hap
pen that the result of an election will
depend not upon the majorites or plu-
ralities received in all the states, or upon
a majority of them, but upon a bare plu-
rality or majority received in a single
state; ard this has actually occurred
more than once.
Mr.. Carlisle proceeds to show the
technical and legal difficulties that may
and do arise. Difficulties concerning the
counting of the electoral vote began in
1906 and have occurred nine times since,
result of the election depended upon the
votes of the states of Louisiana,
Florida, oregon and South Carolina.