Soo-Ryum Yang
The convention system is not necessarily obsolete, but hopelessly complicated and needlessly prolonged. The months-long primary-caucus process can be replaced with one electoral event taking place simultaneously around the country. This should eliminate any influence early voting states would have on following elections and prevent any future Michigan/Florida problems from occurring. Thus, this system is very much integral to our electoral process, but it needs reform to eliminate unnecessary traditions that make our democracy inefficient and ineffective.
Aimee Sobhani
More recent conventions lack the mystery past conventions once had. Because of the current media, potential candidates gear up for the campaign months earlier since they need coverage to win the primaries that will lead to winning the party's nomination.
These days, the presumptive nominee becomes apparent months before the convention, and the public even discovers the identity of the vice presidential candidate before delegates meet. Since everyone knows who will be competing in November, conventions are now symbolic events. Now, they are merely huge parties for the delegates.
Though conventions no longer have a "real" purpose, they still exist for the sake of party unity.
Frannie Boyle
Unfortunately for the U.S. the convention system has become somewhat obsolete over the past few decades. In the past there was much excitement over each party's convention because the nominees' identities were usually unknown. The political parties would also use the convention to decide upon major changes in their platforms. In 1968 the Democrats used their convention to decide upon their position on the Vietnam War, and in their 1980 convention, the Republicans added the anti-abortion stance to their platform. Platform changes are decided upon in advance, and the most anticipated part, the nomination of the party's candidate for president, is now known months before the actual convention. They have in a sense become obsolete. They just do not hold the significance they did in the past.
Meryem Dede
Conventions are obsolete when it comes to their original purpose: to select a candidate for president. With winning candidates usually securing their positions well before August, electors' votes during conventions rarely come as a surprise; Obama certainly was not crossing his fingers as the ballots were read. However, conventions also serve as a platform for parties to unite themselves after grueling primary races. In this respect, conventions are still very much needed. Obama needed the convention to heal any wounds he may have inflicted on his way to the top. As long as there are primaries, conventions will not be obsolete.
