Author Topic: What needs to be changed in the US electoral process (Read 1054 times)

Nash · « **Reply #30 on:** November 10, 2000, 02:09:00 AM »

Hmm...

I was of the opinion that the Electoral College was antiquated... much like daylight savings time. Neccessary in the past, maybe, but not any longer.

You've completely changed my mind on it Fatty. I never thought that would happen in a thread on the AH BBS

Realistically, domestic policy is created and enacted based on the net gain of votes. I had not considered that. Not only would you see less attention during a campaign, middle America would get consistantly screwed over during the elected Government's reign. Last time I checked, despite the lack of populace there, they are pretty integral. Unless you don't care for things like food or paper etc.

This has been a fascinating few days for me.

[This message has been edited by Nash (edited 11-10-2000).]

Lance · « **Reply #31 on:** November 10, 2000, 08:18:00 AM »

Nice link, Snoopi. That was the point I was trying to make, made better and with the numbers to back it up.

Again, we'll just have to agree to disagree, Fatty. You make better arguments than most do for the electoral college.

As it is, my vote here in Texas meant nothing. Litterally. Bush was going to win the state, so my vote for Gore had no weight whatsoever in who becomes our president. I might as well have stayed home. I went ahead and voted because it makes me feel like I am not shirking my duties as a citizen, even though it was utterly pointless. The same is true for people voting for Bush in states that Gore was going to carry. Where are our voices?

I just think it exceedingly important for all citizens vote to count equally in this one area of Government. The way it is, some have weight, some don't, and some carry more weight than others based on where they live. That is why you only see campaigns in large electoral states or where the race is to be hotly contested.

Gordo

Fatty · « **Reply #32 on:** November 10, 2000, 12:16:00 PM »

Your voices were drowned out by your constituents. Sorry man, next time I won't yell so loud

Your state has a vote, fairly weighted by its population. You were significantly outvoted in that decision, so my advice to you is not to vote next time. Or you could go back and vote next time even though you didn't make a difference this time.

It's up to you, but I hate to break it to you. Your 1 vote makes no difference in the popular vote either.

Edit PS - The link isn't bad, but the guy ignores the fact that with a popular vote, it's possible for Mass's entire state not make up the difference in a tight NY race.

[This message has been edited by Fatty (edited 11-10-2000).]

Eagler · « **Reply #33 on:** November 10, 2000, 12:22:00 PM »

I just heard the 19,000 ballot story is bogus. It was original reported that these ballots did not count, story I just heard was that these 19k ballots were the ballots redone by voters who error on the ballot and submitted another ballot before they left the polling centers. Can anyone confirm this story?

Eagler

Toad · « **Reply #34 on:** November 10, 2000, 01:04:00 PM »

It's micro versus macro.

Zoom in to your state and your vote helps decide who gets the weighted electoral votes. In close races your vote has an extreme importance, as we are seeing right now in FL. In landslides, it doesn't.

Zoom out to the national popular vote and your vote helps decide who gets the job. In close races your vote has an extreme importance. In landslides, it doesn't.

I'm with Fatty on this one.

Lance · « **Reply #35 on:** November 10, 2000, 01:31:00 PM »

Heh! Thanks for illustrating my problem with things. You are 100% right. Our presidential election process is a vote of individual states as opposed to individual citizens. I suppose that makes sense if you are more concerned with protecting the say of geopolitical areas as opposed to the say of the citizens that live within them

Its a simple fact, your vote may or may not mean a thing based on where you live. It may mean more or less dependant on how contested your state is. That's wrong, imo.

I have to admit, though, the current system makes for an interesting poker game...

Gordo

Toad · « **Reply #36 on:** November 10, 2000, 01:49:00 PM »

My point is you can say the essentially the exact same thing about a simple majority vote.

In a tight race, you count. In a landslide you don't.

I'm more concerned with protecting the say of citizens that live within small geopolitical areas called states.

PC · « **Reply #37 on:** November 11, 2000, 09:24:00 PM »

F4UDOA, I may be late but:

>Why do you imply that they media changes the out come of the vote? They work on a prediction system that is over 90% accurate and they don't report on a state until the polling is closed in that state.
Do you think it is a conspiracy?<

Wrong! You see what you want to see.
Poles closed in FL at 8 pm est not 7.

Jeez, I'm really tired of this crap.

PC

Eagler · « **Reply #38 on:** November 11, 2000, 11:20:00 PM »

Most of FL closed at 7 pm EST. The panhandle closed at 8pm EST. Panhandle was voting when they called FL for gore.

Eagler

Eagler · « **Reply #39 on:** November 11, 2000, 11:24:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler:
I just heard the 19,000 ballot story is bogus. It was original reported that these ballots did not count, story I just heard was that these 19k ballots were the ballots redone by voters who error on the ballot and submitted another ballot before they left the polling centers. Can anyone confirm this story?

Eagler

Heard tonite that Duval County (Jacksonville) threw out 22,000 ballots and no recount there. These are damaged/errored ballots which were recast before the voter left the poll so they are counted. The media/democrats have spun the 19k votes in Palm Beach to sound as if they were never counted. This is not true.

Eagler