The United States uses the Electoral College as a method of selecting the president. This system has its strengths and weaknesses, most notably encouraging presidential aspirants to engage with a broad range of states instead of focusing on just a few. However, it is also criticized for leading to “safe seats,” producing results that may not accurately reflect population preferences and giving smaller states a disproportionately large impact. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the primary benefits of the electoral college is its encouragement for a national campaign strategy. The 2016 election saw Donald Trump visit more diverse states than Hillary Clinton, including less populous ones like Maine and Nebraska, which many believe contributed to his victory. This demonstrates the system's effectiveness in evaluating the votes of smaller states, ensuring that their voices are heard and considered significant in determining the outcome of the election. A notable disadvantage of the electoral college is the creation of "safe seats". Predominantly Democratic states like California and staunchly Republican states like Alabama often see little to no campaign activity from opposing party candidates, as was the case with Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign strategy. While swing states like Florida continue to see strong competition, the focus on these battlegrounds may diminish the perceived value of campaigning in states with predictable outcomes, distorting electoral focus. Furthermore, the representative fairness of the Electoral College is called into question, as evidenced in the 2016 election in which Hillary Clinton won more popular votes than Donald Trump but lost the Electoral College vote. This disparity calls into question the system's ability to accurately reflect the will of the American people. The disproportionate influence granted to smaller states is another criticism of the electoral system. With a minimum of three Electoral College Votes (ECV) regardless of population size, states like Wyoming have greater per capita influence than populous states like California. If constituency assignment were based solely on population, California would have a much larger number of ECVs. This imbalance highlights the outsized influence that smaller states can have on the outcome of elections, potentially overestimating their votes relative to those of more populous states. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize Essay This exploration of the electoral college reveals its complex nature, balancing the need for widespread electoral engagement with the challenge of ensuring a fair and representative outcome for all Americans.