(Le Mars) — This nation’s founding fathers set up the system of electoral votes that would elect the president. Each candidate needs to reach the magical figure of 270 electoral votes in order to become the next President of the United States. But many wonder, who are the people selected as part of the
Electoral College. Plymouth County’s own Don Kass of rural Remsen was selected during the district Republican convention as a voter for the electoral college.
The number of electoral votes consists of the number of representatives plus the two senators. Here in Iowa, that would mean a total of six electoral votes are up for grabs. Kass says in 48 of the 50 states, it doesn’t matter if the presidential candidate was to win by one vote, or by one million votes, it is a winner take all system.
Kass says if neither candidate is able to get at least the minimum 270 electoral votes, than the next president will be selected by the U-S House of Representatives.
Kass says it is expected that he will vote the way the general population voted within his district for the political party.
This is the second time Kass has been selected to participate in the electoral college, having done so back in 2004 with President Bush. Many people wonder why a popular vote isn’t used to determine the president. Kass defends the electoral vote saying the system was set up to give smaller states a voice in
presidential elections.
Kass says the electoral college provides another measure of checks and balances for our government.
He says the electoral system is especially important when you have a nearly evenly divided nation over two candidates.
