I've heard that our votes don't count. Under what circumstance would your single vote count?

Question

I believe our founding fathers created a constitution that provided the American citizen with a vote that actually counted.

Yes, I know all about the electoral college, but that doesn't change the fact that we DO have the power to determine our political future through the exercise of our precious vote.

Who stands to gain by implying that our votes don't count and won't make a difference? The two political parties in power now.

The concept of votes not counting is a reletively new one, in the last 80 years or so.

Before that, people knew how our system of government was supposed to work and used their vote to work it.

What would make your vote count again?

Arwenlot...Thank you. But you totally miss the point. I know my vote counts and know how prescious it really is.

The EC can elect a president regardless of the make-up of the Pop. Vote.

The most important vote you cast in in your State for your State Representative. It is far more important than the presidential vote and carries more personal responsibility and power for you the citizen.

Also, the percentage of registered voters that actually vote is appalling. If you think that "most" people do vote you would be mistaken, especially taking into consideration the number of unregistered voters that qualify.

I think that fact pretty much supports my premise that most of the people of voting age in this country don't vote...why? Might it be they don't feel their vote counts?

And again, under what circumstance would your single vote count?

It is obviously the question that if answered would determine all elections for the foreseeable future.

Answer 1

One of the sad things about the EC is that in most (if not all other elections in the US) your individual vote, as you cast it, does count. It is only in the highest, most important job in the land that it does not...

The biggest way that it would impact the 2 main parties is that as people -seeing that more vote outside the 2, many more would (most who don't, site the fear of 'wasting' a vote by choosing who they think can win, as opposed to who they prefer- the 'lesser of 2 evils' approach.)

Answer 2

We saw some very close elections this last time around. Every vote was important to make the voice of the people heard. Democracy works when people vote.

I love the bumper sticker "If you don't vote don't complain". The word complain wasn't used it started with a B but I cleaned it up for this board.

Answer 3

Your single vote does count. The people who say this don't realize that electoral votes, in a Presidential election, are determined through the popular vote (or, your single vote). The electoral votes of any particular state are determined by the majority of single votes in an election. That's why it's important to vote.

Answer 4

People only say their vote doesn't count when the results don't go their way.

You're vote counts. If it doesn't, I ask everyone in America to stop voting tomorrow so I can decide all the elections.

Answer 5

If your so concerned about it, then don't vote. If everybody believed that votes didn't count, then nobody would vote and then, nothing would be decided. If you hate the two top political parties, keep voting for the independents that nobody likes and sit back and continue to wonder why your votes don't count.

Answer 6

There was a presidential election that one vote decided the president.