Should Voters Pick the Vice President Directly?

What's the single most important thing Americans can do to get our national government to work more effectively? Elect the vice president.

This is the argument vice.run, a new national reform campaign, is making across the country, including in a Washington Post op-ed from the group's founder, David Blake. It's not widely known, but the Constitution outlines a process to elect the vice president just as we elect the president, through “distinct ballots” and “distinct lists.” Only time and tradition have given that power over to parties and presidential nominees.

But the vice presidency matters in an era of closely divided government. Vice President Pence has cast 13 tie-breaking votes in his 2+ years, more than any vice president since 1841. Divisive issues have fallen to Pence, such as opening a debate to overturn the Affordable Care Act.