Electoral Vote Allocation and Pennsylvania

How and Why we Should Embrace the Status Quo

Abstract

The Pennsylvania General Assembly has introduced bills to reform the allocation of electoral votes in presidential elections. These reforms include changing from a winner-take-all (unit) system of allocating electoral votes to inclusion in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and adopting the congressional district method of allocating electoral votes. This paper argues that while there are substantial problems with the current method by which Pennsylvania (and most other states) allocate its electoral votes, the potential problems associated with reform proposals would not improve the fairness of the current system, the efficacy of citizens’ votes, nor the importance of the state of Pennsylvania in presidential elections.