The Electoral College—Does It Matter?

Jake Krupa colors in an electoral map as states projected for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump or Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at an election watching party in Coconut Grove, Fla, on Nov. 8, 2016. Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images

Commentary

This is the fifth and final article in a series based on questions asked by high school students about the Electoral College. In the previous four, I laid out the origins, history, evolution, and current functioning of the institution. Here I take up the question, “Does it really matter?”