Alexander S. Belenky

How America Chooses Its Presidents Alexander S. Belenky

The 2000 presidential election underscored the reality that outcomes in presidential contests do not necessarily follow from the votes cast by American voters. Under the Electoral College, a range of outcomes is possible, and what once might have seemed utterly remote now is clearly possible. Alexander Belenky has focused directly on what he calls extreme outcomes of our presidential elections. This topic is understudied and underanalyzed. He makes a real contribution in a timely way.?Dr. Norman Ornstein, CBS election analyst, American Enterprise Institute Sometimes it takes an ?outsider?s eye? to see the U. S. political system clearly, and Alexander Belenky?s analysis of the presidential election system holds several remarkable surprises for me. Very few scholars have directly addressed fundamental flaws in the Electoral College?s logic? Belenky lays bare several flaws??Prof. David King, Institute of Politics, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University ?Colorado offers something new and something old that could make a difference. The something new is awarding its nine electoral votes proportionate to the popular vote instead of winner take all. ? Colorado?s ?make your vote count? initiative seeks to put power in the popular vote. ? Could success in Colorado start a trend?... Electoral College experts aren?t so certain? Alex Belenky, ? who has written three books on the topic, including ?Extreme Outcomes of U. S. Presidential Elections,? says Colorado could prompt some states to dump winner-take-all, but argues that the Electoral College is ?flexible? and ought to remain in place ? at least as a backup. One scenario he favors combines the popular vote and the Electoral College. ?If there is at least 50 percent turnout of the electorate, then let the popular vote be decisive,? he says, ?If there is not, then rely on the Electoral College.? I like that. It?s a good incentive to vote. -