Policy Backgrounders

Alternative Methods of Electing the President

October 18, 2024

Key Insights

The US’ method of electing the President—through 51 separate elections to award electoral votes that determine the winner—is unique. While the possibility of change in the system is remote, alternative methods have been proposed; some of them would have delivered similar results in the actual election while providing a greater sense for many Americans that their votes actually count, which would likely drive turnout.

• In several recent elections, notably 2000 and 2016, the winner has not won the popular vote; in 2016, the margin was nearly 3,000,000 votes higher for the losing candidate.
• Because of the high bar for amending the US Constitution, it is extremely unlikely that the Electoral College would be abolished.
• The Constitution gives states the right to choose the manner of selecting their electors; they could switch to systems, for instance, awarding electors to the winners of each Congressional district in a state or awarding electors proportionately by the popular vote in the state.
• Generally, these alternative systems would have produced the same actual winner, but considerably closer elections, with greater uncertainty about the outcome in advance as more areas of the country could influence the outcome.