Congressman Cohen Introduces Resolution to Abolish the Electoral College

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today reintroduced a joint resolution to amend the Constitution by abolishing the Electoral College. The archaic vestige of a compromise with pro-slavery Southerners during the 18^th century debate over the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College can – and has, as recently as 2016 – thwarted the will of the American people by installing as president the loser of the popular vote.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Americans expect and deserve to see the winner of the national popular vote for any elected office assume the office as its legitimate winner. The Electoral College is a vestige of the 18^th Century when voters didn’t know the candidates.  Today, Presidential candidates are widely known and regularly appear on Americans’ phones and television screens. It is also a relic of a time when pro-slavery Southerners debating the Constitution in 1787 sought and gained electoral strength by counting ineligible, non-voting enslaved people as part of their state populations. 

“The President should be elected by the people, not politicians. We must count every vote, and every vote should be counted equally.  

“While there is so much wrong in incoming President Trump’s Electoral College Truth Social post, one thing is true: it is long past time to abolish this anachronistic institution and guarantee that the winner of the popular vote takes office.  I welcome President Trump’s support for a national popular vote and encourage Republicans to follow his lead and support this Amendment.”

On December 9, 2024, Donald J. Trump posted on Truth Social that “The Democrats are fighting hard to get rid of the Popular Vote in future Elections.  They want all future Presidential elections to be based exclusively on the Electoral College!”

Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, has introduced similar joint resolutions in 2021 and 2019.

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