Big Blue Wave Gives Democrats the Power to Effectively End the Electoral College Before 2028

Winning the presidency is not the same as rewriting the rules for how presidents are chosen.That difference matters in light of Democrats’ recent sweeping victories, which some argue could give them the leverage to effectively abolish the Electoral College before 2028, according to The Western Journal. Short answer: No – winning the presidency doesn’t let one party “abolish” the Electoral College. Changing how presidents are chosen would require separate constitutional or state-level steps that are difficult and time-consuming, so a single election victory (even a sweep) doesn’t automatically rewrite the rules before 2028.

how the Electoral College can be changed or effectively bypassed

– Constitutional amendment: To abolish the Electoral College outright or replace it with a national popular vote would require a constitutional amendment (2/3 vote in both the House and Senate, then ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions). That process is deliberately high-bar and typically takes many years, if it happens at all.

– National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC): States can (and some have) pass laws binding their electors to the national popular-vote winner once states totaling 270 electoral votes join the compact. This doesn’t amend the Constitution and would take effect only once signatory states collectively hold at least 270 electoral votes. Getting enough states to join requires many state legislatures to act, which is politically difficult.

– state-by-state changes to elector appointment: The Constitution gives state legislatures power to determine how electors are appointed, so states could change their methods (e.g., choose electors by statewide popular vote rather than winner-take-all or by congressional district). But reversing or coordinating such changes across enough states to change presidential outcomes requires many legislative majorities and time.

Why a single party’s electoral sweep usually isn’t enough

– Structural requirements: Both a constitutional amendment and the NPVIC require action by many states and/or Congress; neither is achieved just by winning the presidency.

– Political reality: State legislatures and the Senate often have different partisan control than the White House. Even with strong federal wins, a party would typically need widespread, sustained state-level legislative success to secure the 270 electoral votes for an interstate compact or to ratify an amendment.

– Timing: Ratifying an amendment or getting the NPVIC to 270 electoral votes is highly likely to take multiple years. Saying it could be done “before 2028” would assume unusually rapid, coordinated state-level change.

Bottom line: A presidential victory gives political momentum but not unilateral power to abolish or replace the electoral College. Any durable change requires additional legal and political steps that are considerable and hard to complete quickly. If you want, I can summarize the current status of the National Popular Vote compact or outline the amendment process in more detail.

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There’s a pretty significant difference between winning a presidential election and deciding that the rules for winning presidential elections should be changed. That distinction is worth considering after Democrats’ sweeping […] The post Big Blue Wave Gives Democrats the Power to Effectively End the Electoral College Before 2028 appeared first on The Western Journal.

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