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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, When drafting the Constitution in 1787, the framers |
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wisely established an electoral voting system that has benefited |
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the citizens of the United States for generations; and |
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WHEREAS, The Electoral College is a process that allows |
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Americans to vote for electors, who in turn vote for the United |
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States president and vice president; each state appoints a number |
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of electors equal to the total number of the state's members of |
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Congress, and the states are able to determine their own methods for |
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choosing electors; in 48 states and Washington, D.C., all electors |
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are selected according to the popular vote, and in Maine and |
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Nebraska, electors are assigned using a proportional system; to win |
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the presidency, a candidate must receive the vote of at least 270 |
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electors, otherwise the decision is made by the House of |
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Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, In keeping with the principles of federalism and the |
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values of our constitutional republic, the Electoral College |
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ensures that all states are fairly represented in presidential |
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elections; smaller, less-populated states have an equitable impact |
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on the decision, and candidates are incentivized to address the |
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needs of all voters rather than focusing only on residents of large |
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cities and other urban centers; and |
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WHEREAS, The Electoral College contributes to the legitimacy |
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of election outcomes by requiring a higher margin of victory than a |
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popular vote system; it also makes elections more stable and less |
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likely to trigger nationwide recounts, and it discourages voter |
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fraud by reducing the impact of fraudulent votes; in addition, the |
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electoral system limits the number of viable presidential |
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candidates, preventing presidential elections with small |
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pluralities; and |
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WHEREAS, The Electoral College is a fair and balanced system |
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that retains majority rule while protecting smaller states from the |
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tyranny of the majority, and it has proven to be a vital component |
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of our democracy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express support for the Electoral College. |