Wrong Winner: The Coming Debacle in the Electoral College [Paperback]

David W. Abbott (Author), James P. Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0275938719 | ISBN-13: 978-0275938710

This book describes what the authors identify as an emerging political crisis in U.S. politics: the possible winning of the presidency by a candidate with far fewer votes than his or her opponent. David W. Abbott and James P. Levine stress both the irrationality and peculiar nature of the current electoral system, emphasizing recent and current political developments. On the basis of their computer analysis of past elections and modern political realities, the authors predict that within twenty years it is very likely that the United States will produce a "wrong winner." In explaining how this phenomenon could occur, Abbott and Levine introduce the concept of the "wasted vote;" the fact that winning lopsided majorities in states is worth no more than winning states by one vote, due to the antiquated winner-take-all principle. The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of the electoral college and the structure of the existing electoral system. The method of selection of state electors is then scrutinized, along with the set of procedures that the electors work with until the formal announcement of the electoral votes. The authors also note that, under an odd set of ground rules, if no candidate gets a majority of votes in the college, the House of Representatives must choose the president. Whenever there is a third party candidate, there is a danger of a stalemate in Congress, creating the potential for "all kinds of nefarious political shenanigans." The authors conclude that the only satisfactory solution to the electoral system's shortcomings is the total abrogation of the electoral college and a shift to direct election of the president by the people. Wrong Winner will be an excellent supplementary text in Public Choice, Campaign and Elections, and American Government courses, as well as of interest to political professionals and political scientists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This volume predicts a soon-to-occur disaster resulting from the current setup of the Electoral College. In several instances, the arguments are interesting as they point to some serious shortcomings in the present constitutional electoral machinery....Abbott and Levine review the historical evidence and interpret that evidence convincingly. The authors are at their best when they review the history of changes suggested in the Electoral College. They also provide an interesting...analysis of recent congressional votes on constitutional amendments on the Electoral College.”–Choice

“Abbott and Levine have figured out how the outdated Electoral College, built into the Constitution by our founding fathers, is set to go haywire. They argue that within the next few elections, the Electoral College will produce the wrong president or no president at all. This is the best of political science--it combines solid analysis with a rare insight into real politics. A fascinating read.”–Ken Bode Director of the Contemporary Media Center, Depauw University and Correspondent for Cable News Network

“The historical evidence and the interactions set forth by the authors are written in a most compelling and fascinating manner, providing an absolutely superb opportunity to explore the meaning and consequences of an important political institution. I really believe that students will be absorbed by this accounting of historical and current events and their significance for Americans.”– William Mitchell Professor of Political Science University of Oregon

About the Author

DAVID W. ABBOTT is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College.

JAMES P. LEVINE is a Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Paperback (May 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275938719
• ISBN-13: 978-0275938710
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,089,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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