Despite receiving fewer votes, Donald Trump managed to secure his first election win with the support of the Electoral College, highlighting the complexities within our electoral system. In 2020, when the majority of voters rejected his bid for a second term, Trump swiftly turned his focus towards manipulating the system to retain power. This strategy heavily relied on exploiting the intricacies of the Electoral College, as noted by legal scholar Kate Shaw in her 2022 article for The Michigan Law Review.
Instead of resorting to extreme measures such as calling the Army or inciting a mob, Trump’s initial move to overturn the election involved challenging the peculiar and convoluted process of selecting the President. This process relies not only on legal frameworks but also on the trust and cooperation of various participants. Thus, prior to January 6, Trump attempted to delay the certification of electors and sought alternative electors who would support him. Additionally, there were efforts to pressure state legislatures controlled by Republicans into taking control of the elections and determining the outcome in Trump’s favor. Furthermore, the attempt to pressure the vice president to sway the election in favor of the House of Representatives, where Republicans held a majority, was made.
However, the fragility of our presidential selection process extends beyond its structural flaws. The Electoral College fosters political fictions, such as the notion that a state is uniformly Republican or Democratic based on its color. These fictions can make it easier for some voters to believe claims of election fraud.
Moreover, when examining the American political system as a whole, we encounter broader issues. This includes the inequality in voting power among citizens that I mentioned earlier, where certain votes carry more weight than others, be it for the presidency, Senate, or House of Representatives. This inequality can foster a sense of superiority and entitlement among certain voters, considering themselves “more equal” and more deserving of power than others.
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