The electoral college

[LiquidCourage]

I know this will just start another Bush-Gore 2000 debate, but I found it somewhat disturbing.

Using figures from the 2000 Census and the number of electoral votes states will have in 2004 and 2008...


"A candidate can get 271 electoral votes from winning only the 12 largest states by one vote and losing all other states unanimously

They would win with 28.5% of the vote.
80,162,183 votes for them
201,259,722 votes against them

These are the states they would need to win by at least one vote...

California
Texas
New York
Florida
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Georgia
New Jersey
North Carolina

The rest can be lost completely"

WTF? 28.5% of the population can elect the President? Is this outdated?

[HBox]

That scenario will never happen, but it just goes to illustrate how stupid and outdated this system is.

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[JPMNICK]

thats considering every person, regardless of age, voting in the US. that is a very misleading number.

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[HBox]

His point is more that 28.5% of people voting can determine an election.

http://www.myimgs.com/random/hbox/sig

This message was edited by HBox on 7-13-04 @ 1:15 PM

[LiquidCourage]

Yes, but it's POSSIBLE. Considering Bush won without the majority of the votes, it's something to think about.

[jeffdwright2001]

Only 51.3% of the eligible voting population actually voted for President in the 2000 elections.

That's the number I find disconcerting.

Where I obtained the % (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0876793.html)

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[HBox]

The ways that the Electoral College distorts the vote are more varied than your example, however. If you vote in a state, large or small, that goes to one candidate in an overwhelming majority, your vote means much less than someone voting in a closely contested state. The electoral system could be greatly improved if we'd ditch this system where candidates who win a state take every electoral vote.

http://www.myimgs.com/random/hbox/sig

[JPMNICK]

I got ya, I mis-understood your post. Sorry. I can see your point now. It is unfair for the people who vote for the popular favorite (vote wise), only to lose to the electoral college.

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[furie]

presidents have won without the popular vote before. why is it a problem now?

the electoral college has its merits and faults. We as a people have always favored the larger richer states over the smaller or poorer states. I look at it this way, it has worked since 1789.


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This message was edited by furie on 7-13-04 @ 2:08 PM

[JPMNICK]

Just because something works does not mean it can not be improved.

All other elected officials work on the popular vote. why should the president be any different.



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[TheMojoPin]

presidents have won without the popular vote before. why is it a problem now?

Because it's a complete misrepresentation of the voting public. Every election, the call goes out to get as many people to vote as possible, but what motivation do they have to do so when there's a very good chance their individual voice will NOT count?

Look back to the '60 election. You go by the electoral college, it appears Kennedy won by nearly 100 electoral votes. If you go by actual votes, he barely won by 100,000. It just seems very skewed and unfair to voters who are "stuck" in states that always overwhelm a certain way in their collective voting...plus, it causes candidates to focus more on the swing states than the gimme states.

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This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 7-13-04 @ 2:39 PM

[Melrapuo]

The only way you could IMPROVE on the electoral college is to get rid of it completely. I never understood the meaning of it. So what if you live in a small or large state? One vote counts as one vote.

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[Mike Teacher]

Only 51.3% of the eligible voting population actually voted for President in the 2000 elections.
Thats the number I find disconcerting.

=

Hell yeah! Fucking A well told.

While the rest debate the college, id like to address the people that dont vote. Now, there may be many legit reasons for not voting, but it Does say a Lot about us, the population, the nation as a whole.

=

Oh, and it should be Justifiable Assault to bitch slap anyone who utters the words "Electorial College". ok its a pet peeve but day-ummmm....

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[high fly]

One funny aspect of the 2000 election was the Bush team thought just before the election that they would get the popular vote, but that Gore would get the electoral college vote.
They threatened to take it to the Supreme Court, if they had to, to get their boy in office.

That being said, I hate discussing the 2000 election.


Speaking of the electoral college, good thing we're setting up the same system in Iraq!
I'm sure it will serve to cool the overheated feelings we see over there now.

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[Snoogans]

i was thinkin of goin for a masters at electoral college in a couple years

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[high fly]

i was thinkin of goin for a masters at electoral college in a couple years



Me too, but I opted for Hamburger University instead.

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[A.J.]

i was thinkin of goin for a masters at electoral college in a couple years

It's a "party school".

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