To the Eagle:

Thank-you, Rick for the AP article discussing the Electoral College [EC] process.

The AP journalist missed a few key components of EC design. The EC was created at a Convention of States. That convention met so states could create our federal Constitution, while protecting their state sovereignty. That is, the dual sovereignty republic we live in today.

Alexander Hamilton wanted direct citizen election of the president, but the states said no. Selection of the states president, was not to be a popular vote, as the job is not President of the Citizens. The EC design reflects our Congressional weighed system of each state’s Representatives and Senators. The EC minimum allowed number of electors is three. Today seven states are allocated three electors. The largest number is California’s 55 electors, which equals the 15 least populous states.

Our federal Constitution [written by the states] is silent on selection of state electors simply because selecting the states president is explicitly a sovereign state issue. Each state decides how to select their electors and each state decides how those electors are allocated; either winner take all, or proportional to reflect voter preference.

The EC system is a very thoughtful and wise arrangement allowing each state [and their voters] to elect the president of the states. Understanding the basic EC requirement of ensuring each state’s liberty while simultaneously ensuring each citizen within each state retains their liberty is a bit complex.

Bottom-line: The EC allows ‘each’ state to directly elect their president of the states; if not by direct elector voting, then by the state’s Representatives seated in the Congressional House.

Sincerely,

R.Fritz

Cathlamet