One of the main reasons for the use of the electoral college is that it was established in the Constitution as a compromise between the framers. They wanted to ensure that small states would have a say in the election process and not be overpowered by larger states. The electoral college system gives each state a certain number of electoral votes based on its population, which means that candidates must pay attention to the needs and concerns of voters in all states, not just those with large populations. This helps to ensure that small states are not overlooked in the election process.
Another reason for the use of the electoral college is that it helps to prevent candidates from winning the election by focusing on a few heavily populated areas. Under a popular vote system, candidates could win the election by focusing on large cities and urban areas, neglecting the rest of the country. The electoral college system, however, forces candidates to pay attention to voters in all regions of the country, as they must win electoral votes from a variety of states in order to win the election.
Additionally, the electoral college also serves as a safeguard against potential problems in the election process. A popular vote system could be susceptible to voter fraud or manipulation, whereas the electoral college system distributes the power to vote among the states, making it harder for any one group to manipulate the outcome of the election.
It is worth noting that the electoral college system is not unique to the United States, many other countries also use similar systems to elect their leaders.
Overall, while the electoral college system has its flaws, it also has certain advantages that help to ensure that the needs and concerns of all voters are considered in the election process and it serves as a safeguard against potential problems in the election process. The choice between the two systems comes down to a question of balancing the principle of democracy with the practical considerations of ensuring that all voices are heard in the election process.