Electoral College: Your Vote Matters Less in Presidential Elections
I live in Tennessee, which would likely be a Republican lock no matter who the candidates were. Indeed, the prediction markets at www.intrade.com are predicting that a Republican victory in Tennessee is virtually a sure thing. The prediction markets predict that an Obama victory in California is also virtually a sure thing. An article in the August 21, 2008 Wall Street Journal said that in national polls the race is now a statistical dead heat. This is interesting information, but in terms of how I vote in November it isn't particularly useful. In the absence of major unforeseen circumstances, McCain will win Tennessee no matter how I vote or whether I vote at all.
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The EC is the electorate that really decides the presidential election. There are really no laws on the books in the Constitution or by the state that requires the EC to vote the way of the people. If a state votes for on candidate, there is a chance that the electors could vote for the other person. It is the choice of the elector.
And that's why we must push for the abolition of the Electoral College ASAP, because I live in a state (Texas) that is Republican dominated even though I plan to vote Democratic this year. It is upsetting to think my vote and support for Barack Obama will amount to nothing! Free the elections! Let the PEOPLE, not an elite group, decide!
If we were to go to a popular vote then the elections would be pretty much decided by the four largest cities in the country. All other states would not matter. This makes sure that every state has some say in the election.
"If we were to go to a popular vote then the elections would be pretty much decided by the four largest cities in the country. All other states would not matter. This makes sure that every state has some say in the election ."
Every state does not have the same say. California has 55 electoral votes, while Wyoming has 3. In fact it's grossly disproportionate. California has approx 33million people while Wyoming has approx 500,000. So proportionately speaking a person in wyoming have a greater voice then a person in California.
Moreover If the largest cities in california carry the state to the democratic candidate then all the republic votes are essentially ignored and their electoral college votes go to a democrat.
both of these examples show a gross misrepresentation by the electoral college.
"If we were to go to a popular vote then the elections would be pretty much decided by the four largest cities in the country."
Why? That argument would only make sense if all four largest cities voted the same way every time. Cultural and industrial differences between them makes that unlikely.
"All other states would not matter. This makes sure that every state has some say in the election."
Why? That makes no sense, really. If a state is known to be leaning towards the Democrats under the present system, there is no reason for the Republican candidate to bother with it, and vice versa. Having Presidents elected by popular vote forces the candidates of both major parties to work that much harder to win votes in every single state.