Press Release from the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area:

The League of Women Voters® of the La Grange Area will sponsor a meeting in May about the Electoral College. Should we continue our current system in which our states appoint electors, or should our President and Vice President be chosen directly by the national popular vote? Join the LWV to learn more about the history of the Electoral College, a discussion of its impact on our democracy, and a plan for changing the system.

It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency and there are 538 electoral votes in all. When citizens go to vote on Election Day, they are actually voting for the representatives in the Electoral College from their state who will then vote for the President. There have been five times in history when the Electoral College and the national popular vote have not agreed. Most recently, in the 2016 and 2000 elections, both elected Presidents did not win the most votes from our citizens.

The LWV has advocated for abolishing this antiquated system since 1970 and there is a growing consensus of Americans that agree. In 2017, LWV-Illinois began a project to make abolishing the Electoral College a primary goal for all 700 leagues across the country.

The Electoral College meeting will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 7 to 9 p.m. at: La Grange Public Library, 10 West Cossitt Avenue, La Grange, Illinois 60525