Unspecified Elections - Federalist #61
In Federalist #61, Alexander Hamilton discusses why the Constitution’s lack of specific requirements regarding the place of elections is not something the people should be concerned about.
Federalist #61
Alexander Hamilton
February 26, 1788
In Federalist #61 Alexander Hamilton acknowledges the idea that the Constitution does not specifically state that elections must be held in the county that a candidate is being chosen from.
The Anti-Federalist fear was that Congress could hold elections far from where the people lived, essentially placing anyone they wanted in the House of Representatives.
Hamilton snubs this idea on several fronts.
It’s Irrelevant
Immediately, Hamilton agrees that language could have been inserted into the Constitution specifying where elections could be held.
He claimed that it was harmless and would not have affected the final document.
However, Alexander accuses the people complaining about the lack of this language as being nitpicky and attempting to use this excuse as a means of holding up the ratification process.
New York as an Example
Hamilton points out that New York, the State where the Federalist Papers were being written and published, also does not have a clause describing where elections need to be held.
Furthermore, he asserts that New York has not had a problem with elections being held at far away locations.
Additionally, the reason Congresspersons were reelected every two years was to prevent the Federal Government from having the opportunity to make moves of this nature before the people had an opportunity to vote them out of office.
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