The founders established the Electoral College as part of the Constitution to create an indirect election system. This mechanism was designed to ensure that the election of the president would not be entirely in the hands of the populace but would involve a selected group of electors. This approach reflects the ideas put forth by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 68, emphasizing a balance between public sentiment and the judgment of qualified individuals.

In "How Democracies Die," author Steven Levitsky discusses the implications of the Electoral College, pointing to how it shapes the political landscape in the United States. By creating a buffer between voters and the election outcome, the system seeks to protect against potential populism but also raises concerns about its impact on democratic representation and the fidelity to popular will.