The Electoral College was established in 1787 and was created by the men who drafted the United States constitution. It was a compromise on how the president would be elected. At the time, it was feared that a popular vote alone would only elect a favorite and that the vote would not be based on the candidates qualifications. The idea of a popular vote was feared for this reason because in 1787 mass communication and transportation did not exist. The other options of having state legislators or Congress decide on the president were largely rejected because of the fears of corruption , political bargaining, and the influence of foreign powers.

Therefore, a “Committee of Eleven” proposed an election of the president to be decided on through a College of Electors. The original idea was that this College of Electors would consist of the most knowledgeable and informed individuals from each state. These electors would select the president based solely on merit and not party affiliation or state of origin.

Today, several state and federal changes have taken place in order to change the time and procedures of choosing the Presidential Electors. However, these changes have not made the inner fundamental workings of the Electoral College any different.