Do you realize that your vote doesnt count?

Question

The electoral college votes for the president of the USA. Sure, they SHOULD vote for whoever the people vote for but they dont HAVE TO. How much money would it take to buy out the electoral college? How do we know its not bought out already? When do we even vote for these people, what are they called...

Also, didnt Bush win the election over Algore because of electoral votes, not popular votes? Wouldnt that mean that the people did not elect our president into the whitehouse?

Doesnt this mean that amercia is NOT a democracy?

If the president gets elected by popular vote regardless of who the electoral college votes for, like you said JFK was elected, then why is there even an electoral college? What is its purpose? And again, who elects these people, and what are there positions called?

I have read up on the constitution and i cant find anything about electoral college..

Thank you for telling me to find the answers myself, yahoo answers.

Answer 1

First, America is not a Democracy. It is a Democratic Republic.
Second. When the soldiers votes from overseas were counted, Bush did beat Gore.
Third. In 1960 JFK won the Electoral Vote, yet lost the Popular vote to Nixon.

Perhaps a review of our Constitution and related Amendments would clear this up for you.....

Answer 2

Our votes still count, they just don't count towards what some people think they count towards. But they count towards something that is close enough.

The electoral college voters don't have to vote for whoever the people they're representing voted for, but they usually do. An election's result has never been changed by the electoral college voters voting for the wrong person. So that's how we know it's not been bought already. Their votes are public, so we'll know if it ever happens.

And if they ever were bought, then the people who bought and sold the votes would go to jail. So that serves as a disincentive. I'm not sure if that'd invalidate the vote. But since it's never come up, and it probably never will come up, it doesn't really matter.

I'm not sure when the electoral college voters are chosen. I think they might be appointed by the state parties, or something like that, rather than being elected.

Yes, Bush won over Al Gore despite losing the popular vote. That means that America is a Constitutional Democracy, rather than a pure Democracy. Just like how the Constitution prevents congress from infringing the freedom of speech, even if the majority of them vote for it.

Answer 3

the electoral college was set up whenour country was being formed it was not in any document , it was done because the general population back then was un educated people and those running for office were either generals in the army, statesman, lawyers and the like. so they felt that the public at that time could not make a good choice of president and that they would set up a system that by percentage of popular vote would get so many electoral votes and then they would battle it out for the winner. but you raised a good point on buying out the college and yes that could happen with the right dollar ammount.

Answer 4

The popular vote of a state or district determine which electoral delegate is chosen. That delegate has in fact pledged to vote for a candidate. It is rare indeed for him/her to change his mind and vote otherwise, but that is the safeguard, he can do so.

Another safeguard this puts into place is that it prevents a few states with large populations to control the presidential election. It is still weighted to the states with large populations, like California, NY, and FL, but states with smaller populations still get an important influence.

Consider how few states voted for Gore, Kerry, or even Clinton. The difference is that CA and NY with their huge populations is almost guaranteed to vote democrat and that is a huge part of the required votes in the electoral college.

Answer 5

perhaps a study of the history of the electoral college is in order. if you take your argument to the extreme, say each state puts up a candidate for president. in direct elections, the most populous state wins and gets to hand select a president every year. via electoral college, the vote should go to the most qualified candidate regardless of state of origin. it's another safeguard put in to keep equal representation of candidates by qualification instead of population demographics.

Answer 6

That is where the electoral votes ensure a fair election. You need to bone up on the electoral college process. And I hate to break it to you. Our votes do count.

Answer 7

Too many questions...but, the people who vote in the electoral college are called delegates.

And they are supposed to vote with the majority of the people of the state.

But, politics was bought out long ago with the lobbyists, and continues to worsen in that regard.

It is rare to find a politician these days that actually represents you and me, instead of the lobbyists that are banging on their door offering goodies.

Answer 8

each state has electoral votes dipshit if the majority of the state votes for someone then that states electoral votes go to them

Answer 9

Hillary wouldn't give a damn if it didn't benefit her, that's why she agreed to leave them out on the first go around. She thought she would be coroneted Queen by now, but a funny thing happened on her way to the convention and now she'd like to change the rules. Florida and Michigan made their play and it blew up in their faces, now they have to live with the consequences!

Answer 10

>>2 hours ago
I have read up on the constitution and i cant find anything about electoral college..<<

Twelfth Amendment, smart guy