Dr. Judah J. Shapiro, president of the Labor Zionist Alliance, voiced opposition yesterday to President Carter’s proposal to abolish the Electoral College. Speaking to the LZA National Council, Shapiro said elimination of the Electoral College would reduce the political strength of American Jewry and all ethnic groups, as well as American labor in their ability to obtain their objectives through the political process.”
He explained that Jews in areas with large Jewish populations, such as the Northeast, the industrial Midwest, Florida and California, Jews have political clout because their vote can help win the state for a Presidential candidate under the present system. “If we have direct elections, the Jewish population, which represents 2.9 percent of the total U.S. population, cannot possibly have any influence on the results,” Shapiro said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.