Electoral College is here to stay

There is absolutely no chance of the Electoral College being abolished in my lifetime. Sadly, I have to accept this. The threat to the White majority in most states prevents any local interest in allowing such a Constitutional Amendment being proposed. It doesn’t stand a chance. Why, you ask? It all comes down to race and White desperation to remain in control of the country.

The Electoral College is made up of a proportion of each state’s population resulting in electoral delegates chosen by the party faithful leaders who then vote according to the political percentage outcome for that state. Areas that have been drawn on a map by political parties govern which district has which ethnic population. If you don’t want a non-White person elected, you carefully carve up the ethnic neighborhood to ensure the White population maintains control.

There are only three states where the non-White population is over 50%: New Mexico, Texas and California. There are nine states were the non-White population is getting close to a majority, at least over 40%: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.

Overall, non-White populations represent 28.57% of the U.S. population and, as such, they could represent 28.5% of the D.C. representation (and therefore Electoral College) overall. But seen on a state-by-state racial breakdown basis, the individual state representation should be close to 43% today. But that would mean the voting districts would have to be fair and proportional by race. They are not. Georgia, for example, has four non-White representatives in Congress out of 15, which is 26%. Yet their non-White ethnic ratio is 46.81%. How’s that possible? The state Legislature drew the electoral map to make sure the White majority remains in power.

Numbers do not lie. And I am afraid, when it comes to fair Congressional representation and the distant possibility that the General Election results — and therefore the Electoral College — will fairly represent the ethnic makeup of the USA, the numbers are clear. Congress should be representative with 28.57% of the representatives being non-White. This year? Out of 541 members of Congress, 130 are non-White, just 24% and, on top of that, most of those come from the three states with an ethnic non-White majority whereas those with over 40% non-White populations fare much worse. Until the last-gasp-White-superiority practice of carving up of voting districts is solved, we cannot begin to remedy the Congressional racial makeup nor the Electoral College breakdown, let alone think that we can amend the Constitution to have a vote by majority nationwide.

 

Writer Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, now resides in New Mexico.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Back to school
Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.


Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton’s Demitasse shutters Main Street storefront, goes digital

Demitasse owner Hayden McIntosh Geer said she is excited by the shift to online sales.

Photo by Hayden McIntosh Geer

MILLERTON — Some might have argued that launching an in-person retail business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t advisable. But against all odds, Demitasse in Millerton managed not only to build a thriving, mission-based brand in a small storefront on Main Street, it developed a loyal customer base and provided a welcoming space for visitors. Last week, Demitasse announced it is closing-up shop and moving fully online.

“We are excited,” said owner Hayden McIntosh Geer, who opened Demitasse with her husband, Richard, in 2020. “Though we will miss our customers and the camaraderie on Main Street, it feels right and there was no second guessing.”

Keep ReadingShow less
New Millerton police cruisers arrive to replace fire-ravaged vehicles

Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik shows off the new gear. Brand new police cruisers arrived last week.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Millerton Police Department has received two new patrol cars to replace vehicles destroyed in the February 2025 fire at the Village Water and Highway Department.

The new Ford Interceptors are custom-built for law enforcement. “They’re more rugged than a Ford Explorer,” said Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik, noting the all-wheel drive, heavy-duty suspension and larger tires and engine. “They call it the ‘Police Package.’”

Keep ReadingShow less
Fashion Feeds on track to raise $100,000 for Food of Life Food Pantry

Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLBROOK – In a time when optimism and unity can feel elusive, sometimes a walk down Franklin Avenue is enough to feed the soul. With Millbrook Community Day just around the corner, one highlight will be Fashion Feeds, a community effort led by Millbrook native Erin Rollins, whose mission is to fight local hunger.

The concept is simple. People donate new or gently used designer fashion, which is sold at affordable prices, and all proceeds benefit The Food of Life/Comida de Vida Pantry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia.

Keep ReadingShow less