Does your vote REALLY count?

Question

In a world that is neck deep in the Information Age, computers in nearly every household in America and if not at the local libraries someone please try, though practically impossible, to explain why we still need the "Electoral Vote". Because you see the idea behind the electoral vote is that your vote will count and effect how the electoral vote is cast; Yeah......Right. If you believe that, than you probably believe that politicians are honest and that your government would never lie to you. Anyway without getting too far off topic I would love to see what the average "joe" thinks of the "Electoral Vote", its validity, and usefullness in the 21st century.

Reference sources indicate that over the past 200 years, over 700 proposals have been introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate the Electoral College. There have been more proposals for Constitutional amendments on changing the Electoral College than on any other subject. The American Bar Association has criticized the Electoral College as "archaic" and "ambiguous" and its polling showed 69 percent of lawyers favored abolishing it in 1987. But surveys of political scientists have supported continuation of the Electoral College. Public opinion polls have shown Americans favored abolishing it by majorities of 58 percent in 1967; 81 percent in 1968; and 75 percent in 1981.

Opinions on the viability of the Electoral College system may be affected by attitudes toward third parties. Third parties have not fared well in the Electoral College system. Candidates with regional appeal such as Governor Thurmond in 1948 and Governor Wallace in 1968 won blocs of electoral votes in the South, which may have affected the outcome, but did not come close to seriously challenging the major party winner. The last third party or splinter party candidate to make a strong showing was Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 (Progressive, also known as the Bull Moose Party). He finished a distant second in electoral and popular votes (taking 88 of the 266 electoral votes needed to win). Although Ross Perot won 19 percent of the popular vote nationwide in 1992, he did not win any electoral votes since he was not particularly strong in any one or several states.

I never said i dont agree with voting, i do every chance i get what i dont agree with is the way that it's done... read the question

Answer 1

The reason the Electoral College still exists is so that Iowa won't get the same treatment as a New York suburb.

Answer 2

Personally I think the "Electoral Vote" is just as valid today as the day they created it.

Sure we have access to plenty of data, but so what? That doesn't mean that turns into a good vote. For that you need people that actually activitly research and think and use that data. I ask you this, can you tell me the voting records of any of the people that want to be president let alone maybe your next senator?

Personally of the people I see vote most can't even be bothered reading the long description of some bond or whatever they are voting for let alone really research what it means, or who these people they are voting for believe in.

The "Electroral Vote" not only was about the person getting the information needed to cast a good vote, but it was also about that person having enough interest to do the proper research, and thinking. When you look at how few people vote, and how they mostly vote because of popular someone is, it is really hard to believe in their choices.

Besides these days most states regulate their Electoral Votes they are really just changing it into an all or none vote for that state, which means that if the majority in that state wanted someone then the Electoral Votes go for him/her. And the number of Electoral Votes for that state are given by how many people are in the state, so it is basically like arguing which is better the votes coming from the House or the Senate. They are both representing the people that elected them, just grouped a different way.

P.S. Does your vote count? Yes it does, because even with the Electoral College they mostly vote for what the people in their state voted, and if you don't vote then it might go the other way.

Answer 3

I am against the Electoral College and have been since High School. It waters down the popular vote. The Electoral College was made to give the larger populated states more control over the smaller ones. It's time to dump it, and to restore the popular vote as the only means to elect a President and Vice-President. If we need to change the Constitution, that's the first area that needs to be changed.

Answer 4

do you know why the electoral vote is used? the founders believed that the majority of americans are too stupid to vote. its true. unfortunately...they're right. to this day!! more people vote for american idol than president?? thats pathetic. they vote for the president in the same regard.

the constitution was written by the people for the people....by what people? rich, educated..white...for what people?....for dumb people? poor?

the system sucks but do you see any wise citizens speaking out on a system thats determined the president for 200 years?

then there's popular vs electoral. that was a disaster in 2000. i cant believe that issue never got fixed right then.

Answer 5

He gained the two the electoral (that's what counts) and the favored. as quickly as a candidate recieves 270 electoral votes, that's over. Your vote counts as much as a definite factor...there would desire to be circumstances, the place that's a lot closer and it comes all the way down to desiring the votes of each and every state.

Answer 6

I vote and yes I think my vote counts. In my opinion if you don't vote then you aren't really trying to change the way of the future and you really shouldn't whinge about what the governments are up to. Yes they are all crooked but we still need them to run our countries. Of all the **** they get us into, they would get us out of twice as much that we don't even know about.

Answer 7

I have not found anyone who has said they were part of the electorial college. Supposedly they exist. Supposedly the government and the media rely on them.
But that is like relying on 12 men to describe in detail the events of the life of one man that could write one word in sand. Claiming to witness great events and telling us what he said in varying accounts.

Answer 8

There are none so blind as those who can not (or will not) see
Voting is a necessary part of our lives without it we would be way back in the dark ages and I believe it is a privilege to vote!

Answer 9

If absolutely noone voted our country would not exist. Yes it counts.

By the way...if no one votes in the next election does that mean that Hillary is pres by default??

Answer 10

Voting: Suggestion box for slaves...
See this excellent source: