Do you actually believe your vote counts for president?

Question

Really unless you live in a handful of states does the election of president really matter? I voted Libertarian in 2004 eventhough I know who will get the votes in my home state of NY. People always make a big deal about how voting is important which it is but the one the make the biggest deal about, for president, seems to be the least important considering how the voting works. Even if you are a republican in NY your voice is not heard because the republican candidate does not get a proportion of electoral votes based on the popular vote. Is it just me or do we need to change the electoral college.

Try this again if you read what I wrote you will see that I stated if you live in a handful of states the presidential election matters Florida being one of those. Also last time I checked bush lost the popular vote in 2000 he did not win it he won the electoral college.

Melposty before you decree me as being some nitwit lets take a look at how the electoral college works if you live in NY and vote republican and the republican loses he does not get a single of NY's 31 electoral votes. Why not split the votes in proportion of votes received. Two states already do this Maine and Nebraska. So why don't you check things out first.

I do vote I vote in all my elections even for those for my town mayor and town councilor. Why is it we can directly elect these people but not our president.

Answer 1

Yep...my vote is used to choose electors by the state legislature, as is specified in our Constitution.

You an anarchist?

Answer 2

I'm not absolutely sure but you have to win the states popular vote to get the electoral college vote for that particular state. In other words if your state has 50 electoral votes, you have to win the popular vote to get all 50 electoral votes. I believe its a winner take all process. The votes are not divided up by a percentage (ex: the winner gets 30 votes, the next person gets the remaining 20 votes). I think the winner takes all process should be changed. That way smaller states with less electoral votes would have a bigger impact on the general election. A Rhode Island would be just as relevant as a Calif. or N. Y. or a Florida. Each candidate in that state would get a certain amount of electoral votes based on his or her % of the popular vote.

Answer 3

We have the same issue here in CA. Not all of the voters are liberal democrats, but we are considered Democratic state. As such, Republicans have less opportunity based in part on the electoral college and the power brokers who control each political party. Don't let that discourage you from voting. Voting is the only way we the people can change (the people) things we dislike in our government. It's not about the political party in power, its about the will of the people. One man, one vote...power to the people!Zzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Answer 4

I know it seems like our votes have not mattered and to some degree you are right.We need a better government and a new voting system. I don' think we should have to choose from 2 main choices. I think there should be a preliminary vote for all the people for all those running. Then there should be a primary vote of the top 5 or so.When you only have a choice of Republican or Democrat, people are afraid to vote Libertarian because they know they are wasting a vote.I have seen to many people who will vote for the candidate running for their party even if they know little about him. This happened with Bush, allot of people didn't really know what he was for but voted for him because he was running on the Republican ticket.

Answer 5

It's just you. The Electoral College was designed to protect the minority of the Republic. What you're thinking of is a Democracy. Every Democracy in history has failed, and so will the US if we do away with things like the Electoral College. And if you don't think that your vote counts, just remember that Bush won by only a few hundred votes in 2000.

Edit: "Also last time I checked bush lost the popular vote in 2000 he did not win it he won the electoral college." You still don't understand the difference between a Republic and a Democracy. It is crucial that you do because as I said Democracies always fail and we certainly don't want America to be a forgotten memory in the future.

http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr012903.htm

Answer 6

I think plays a big part in what we believe and we stand for. Voting gives a voice in what president u would want to represent. That is like u not picking a lawyer that best represents u....because if the lawyer doesn't defend u the way you thought they should, u wouldn't want that same lawyer to represent u in court. So, I believe that every vote counts, especially if the votes is based on a decision that involves u choosing a president.

Answer 7

How will you change the electoral vote? It is to keep certain overpopulated states from picking the winner every 4 years.
Please read more about how the voting works before you disagree.

Answer 8

Not really. I live in NY and it's almost guaranteed that out votes in the Electoral College will go to the Democrat.

Answer 9

Absolutely. It's a poor commentary to the oldest modern democracy that only a little over half the people participate in a national election.
Each and every vote is important - this is aptly demonstrated by the amount of money the candidates spend in trying to get your vote.

Answer 10

The Electoral College is in DIRE NEED of total reforms. It's current structure allows WIDE OPEN corrupted political dynamics to virtually have the empowered choose who THEY want in the White House----to hell with the US voter.

Until totally 100% clean, clear and fair Electoral College reforms are in place and run at peak efficiency--I dread next year's elections.