What would US history have been like with a multi-round Electoral College?

[mianfei]

One question I have though of since being on this forum is what would be the case of the US’ Electoral College, in the event no candidate gained a majority of electoral votes,

• did not take the election into the House of Representatives to decide
• but rather eliminated the candidate with fewest electoral votes and had the electors – including those pledged to that candidate – voting for one of the remaining candidates.

This process would be repeated until one candidate wins a majority. Such a system would on the surface not allow third-party candidates to bargain for policy decisions as Thurmond and George Wallace attempted to do during the Civil Rights era. It would however allow their electors to have more direct influence in a divided election.

Any thoughts?

[twenty42]

Well we’ve only had one presidential election thrown to the house due to a lack of an electoral majority, so I doubt that history would’ve been terribly different.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

probably more people would vote for third parties, could see a stronger progressive party and a stronger Socialist Party in the 1910's. Overall, not much difference though i'd say.