Modernization of the Presidential Election

Archive Report

Electoral Reforms Before the 81st Congress

The issue of presidential election reform—a hardy perennial of political discuss ion—has been advanced to the stage of definitive action by incidents connected with the surprise reelection of President Truman in 1948, and by fears of what might have happened if no candidate had won a majority in the electoral college last November.

A resolution to submit to the states a constitutional amendment which would abolish the electoral college, while retaining the electoral vote as a counting device and distributing that vote in proportion to the popular vote, is now awaiting action by Congress. Favorable reports by the Judiciary committees of the Senate and House strongly recommend adoption of the amendment as a part of the Constitution.

Sponsors of the electoral-reform ...

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