This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Before Tuesday, I favored jettisoning the Electoral College for direct election of presidents. This election changed my mind.
Even though President Barack Obama's lead was slim, it existed in many states, and that close 50-49 popular vote split became an unassailable 332-206 majority in electoral votes. Thankfully, that definitive electoral vote result settled what could have been a contested election in many states.
The finality of the exaggerated electoral majority allows the nation to have closure and move on to governing.
That the Electoral College does that generally, but not always, is beneficial to our country. After a very long, close campaign, we don't need months of lawsuits about who won.
Hooray for the Electoral College! I guess the Founding Fathers knew what they were doing after all.
Nancy Nateman
Salt Lake City