Final answer:
The greatest danger of the Electoral College is the potential for a president to be elected without winning the popular vote, the suppression of voter turnout in safe states, and the disproportionate influence given to smaller states in presidential elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greatest danger posed by the existence of the Electoral College is that it can result in a president being elected who did not receive the majority of the popular vote. This is because the Electoral College system allows a candidate to win the presidency by securing a majority of electoral votes, even if they lose the popular vote. This can happen when a candidate wins small states by large margins, which awards them a disproportionate number of electoral votes relative to the population.
Another issue is that the Electoral College depresses voter turnout, particularly in states that are considered "safe" for a particular party. Safe states receive less attention and fewer resources during campaigns, as opposed to more competitive battleground states. This can cause voters in safe states to feel that their votes do not matter, thereby reducing voter engagement and turnout.
Finally, the Electoral College may give smaller states disproportionate influence in the electoral process. The distribution of electors can result in an individual's vote carrying more weight in a less populous state than in a more populous one. Critics argue that this undermines the principle of one person, one vote and skews representation away from the popular will.