Electoral College Reform

Facts/Details

1. Many Americans have difficulty understanding that it is not always the candidate that wins the popular vote that is the president.
2. The EC never meets as a single entity.
3. Each state has a number of electoral votes equal to its membership in Congress.
4. Each state has at least 3 votes.
5. Critics believe the electors have the ability to alter or distort the election.
6. EC triples the political clout of voters in the seven least populous states.
7. Critics argue that electors are an anachronism.
8. Existence of EC undermines 3rd parties.
9. 538 total electoral votes
10. The electoral votes usually exaggerates the popular strength of the majority party.

Questions

1. Does any one party out number another in the EC?
2. Do electors ever vote against their party?
3. How does the EC undermine 3rd parties?
4. Does any one state overpower/influence the election significantly more than another?
5. Has a change ever been considered?

My Opinion:

After reading both Daniel Lazare's and Richard A Posner's arguments, I do not believe the Electoral College should be abolished by any means.  Although sometime the candidate that wins the popular vote will not become president, it is usually by a slim margin.  Also, the electors are much more educated and informed about the candidates.  For instance, if a candidate wins the pop. vote by 3 ballots, there is no reason why that candidate qualifies for office as much as his or her opponent. With the electoral college, valued votes are tallied and the right candidate will be chosen.