Federalist No. 68 is an essay written by Alexander Hamilton in 1788. It explains why the Constitution’s framers created the Electoral College and what they hoped it would accomplish.
How it relates to the Electoral College
In a presidential election, voters choose electors pledged to a candidate. Those electors then cast the official votes for president and vice president. Hamilton defended this system as a way to choose a president without having Congress directly select one.
Hamilton argued that electors would be chosen for a special, temporary task and would meet in their own states. He thought this would make it harder for a single group to pressure or manipulate the whole process. He also believed the system could help the country choose someone with the ability and character to serve.
How Hamilton thought it would support the people
- It gave citizens a role: People would help choose the president by voting for electors, even though they did not cast the formal electoral votes themselves.
- It aimed to prevent corruption: Hamilton believed separate meetings in different states would make bribery and political scheming more difficult.
- It sought informed choices: He expected electors to have the judgment and information needed to select a capable president.
- It balanced state and national interests: The number of electors each state receives is based on its representation in Congress, giving states a part in the national choice.
An important distinction
Hamilton’s essay describes what he believed the system was designed to do; it does not prove that the Electoral College always works as intended. Today, electors usually vote for the candidate who won their state, and critics argue that the system can give different weight to voters in different states or allow someone to win the presidency without winning the nationwide popular vote.
In short: Federalist No. 68 supports the Electoral College by arguing that electors could help voters choose a president while reducing corruption and encouraging careful judgment. Whether the system fulfills those goals is still debated.