Besides the fact that it is simple to do so....
If the popular vote is meaningless, why bother tracking it at all?
The only thing that matters is the electoral college vote, is it not?
Or if there is a tie in the electoral college vote, then does the popular vote come into play?
2007-08-05 13:02:53 · 7 answers · asked by powhound 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Yes, I'm aware that the popular vote is used as a measure in voting for the state electorate...I'm looking at the national scope though.
2007-08-05 13:19:25 · update #1
Well in almost every election, the winner of the popular vote was also the winner of the electoral college.
In reality, they should track the popular vote in the 50 states because that is the popular vote that matters.
2007-08-05 13:18:55 · answer #1 · answered by The Stylish One 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the popular vote in a state determines the way the electors vote. i.e. if your state votes 50.3% for candidate A, the electors for Candidate A are the ones who get to vote in the electoral college.
And if there is a tie in the electoral college, the house of representatives gets to break the tie. Each state's representatives get 1 vote (that is 1 vote for the entire delegation)
An electoral-vote tie happened once in history. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 73 electoral votes. The House voted 10-4 (with two abstentions) for Jefferson.
2007-08-05 20:20:18 · answer #2 · answered by istitch2 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there were a tie in the electoral college, the popular vote may play a role in leading the House of Representatives as they determine who should win the presidency.
Otherwise, it does matter on a state-by-state basis, as that is how the electoral votes are determined. Adding them together is simple.
2007-08-05 20:07:18 · answer #3 · answered by Bryan F 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The popular vote is not meaningless.
In fact, the popular vote for each STATE determines how the electoral ballots for that state are cast.
And in the case of one person not having a majority, the House picks from among the top three -- 12th Amendment.
2007-08-05 20:05:40 · answer #4 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It ties into the electoral on the state level.
2007-08-05 20:06:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Correct, correct, correct. I have for years now ask why to do we spend all that money, time, hope, on something that has no meaning. It is pointless to vote on something like this. Now, the real vote is for Governor because he is the one that picks the two that cast their vote for who they want as President.
2007-08-05 20:10:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
obviously our government wants to try to make us believe we actually have the power to change things in this country.
Ha. Yeah right.
Yes it's the electoral college that decides presidential elections.
2007-08-05 20:06:51 · answer #7 · answered by Lily Iris 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋