Tennessee congressman introduces plan to eliminate Electoral College

Congressman Steve Cohen has introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would eliminate the Electoral College.

"For the second time in recent memory, and for the fifth time in our history, the national popular vote winner -- including Tennesseans Al Gore and Andrew Jackson -- will not become President of the United States because of the Electoral College," Cohen said Thursday. "The Electoral College is an antiquated system that was established to prevent citizens from directly electing our nation's president, yet that notion is antithetical to our understanding of democracy. In our country, 'We the People' are supposed to determine who represents us in elective office."

Cohen is Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over all proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Cohen's announcement came the day before Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes.

Here are more of Cohen's remarks:

"When the Founders established the Electoral College it was in an era of limited nationwide communication. It was premised on a theory that citizens would have a better chance of knowing about electors from their home states than about presidential candidates from out-of-state. However, the development of mass media and the internet has made information about presidential candidates easily accessible to U.S. citizens across the country and around the world. Most people don't even know who their electors are.

"Electors were supposed to be people with good judgment who were trusted with picking a qualified President and Vice President on behalf of the people, but they have evolved into being rubber stamps. Most states legally bind their electors to vote for whomever wins the popular vote of that state, so they can no longer reflect individual judgement for a candidate. As Congress certifies the results of the Electoral College tomorrow, I urge my colleagues to consider this constitutional amendment to fix this anachronistic process for future Presidential elections. We should make our Constitution better reflect the 'more perfect Union' to which it aspires."

In December, Cohen attended a forum hosted by the House Judiciary Committee titled, "The Electoral College and the Future of American Democracy."

Cox Media Group