The Electoral College, explained
Why some Americans’ votes count more than others.
Watch more of our election coverage: vox.com/ElectionVideos
In the 2000 US presidential election, the Democratic candidate got half a million more votes than the Republican. The Democrat lost. Sixteen years later the same thing happened again. In the US, if you run for president, it does not actually matter how many people in the country vote for you. What matters instead is an arcane system for selecting America’s head of state called the Electoral College.
The Electoral College is the reason the US has something called “swing states,” and it’s the reason those places get to decide the future of the country. It’s the reason presidential candidates almost never campaign in the country’s biggest cities. And more recently, it’s also the reason that Republican candidates have been able to eke out victories in the presidential election without actually getting the most votes.
The Electoral College makes some Americans’ votes more powerful than others. In fact, that’s part of the reason we have it to begin with; in the country’s early years, the Electoral College helped give the votes of Southern Whites more weight than the votes of Northerners. The idea at its core, that certain votes simply matter more than others, is baked into the American tradition. In the 2020 election, it may decide the winner.
Further reading:
The historian Alexander Keyssar’s book “Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?” takes you through the history and function of the Electoral College: www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.p...
For the bite-sized version of that history, Keyssar also wrote this piece in the New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/op...
The Times also had a great interactive feature on where the 2020 candidates actually spent money: www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...
Pew has a breakdown of how democracies around the world elect their head of state, which really shows what an oddball the US is: www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank...
More on why today’s Electoral College gives Republican presidential candidates a structural advantage: www.vox.com/policy-and-politi...
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
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Fact check: There are a few other democracies that use an electoral college system to pick their president! But what sets the US apart from them is the president’s role. In many countries, the president is less important than the prime minister, or shares power with the prime minister, or is purely a figurehead. But in the US, the president holds all the executive power - they’re the head of government AND the head of state. And there are lots of other presidents like that around the world, but they’re almost always elected by popular vote or by a national legislature. No other democracy follows the US’s example of using an entirely separate body of “electors” to pick the country’s sole leader. Here’s a short article that explains it really well and has a nice map: www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/22/among-democracies-u-s-stands-out-in-how-it-chooses-its-head-of-state/ So no one really does it like the US does - but we definitely could have been more precise at 0:31. Thanks to all who pointed this out! -Adam
Executive is not legislative or judicial. Congress has more control than the president. What are you new?
We are the United States of America, and our states-starting with the original 13 colonies-are separate entities. It is understandably unacceptable to states with smaller populations to have their affairs decided by other states simply because more people live there. Suppose there were a United Countries of Earth. Would we like the idea of China (population 1.439 billion) and India (1.380 billion) running the show? (The U.S. has 331 million people.) Or would we want a leveling factor? - Marilyn Vos Savant
@@GH-yt7eg 1 person = 1 vote.
Why can't the electoral college votes be split according to the proportion of votes each candidate got? For example: If in one state 60% of people voted for Biden and 40% of people voted for Trump, 60% of the electoral college votes go to Biden and 40% go to Trump in that state. (Instead of Biden taking 100% of the electoral college votes). If this is how electoral college votes were allocated in every state, the national end result would more closely resemble the popular vote, whilst still keeping the electoral college in place.
@@NicholasOrlick its called the US election not the californian election.
It’s like every 4years they have to explain this to us
Hii
@@tasawerkhankhansab7766 bro you are moving too fast.
@@asd545a hahaha very funny
But this was thought to us in school lol
Imagine if there was a simpler, more logical system of voting...
Came for the electoral votes but learn the whole US History.
why do you refer to them as white southerners instead of Democrats?
@@julietteleidel3675 because they were referring to a demographic in a geological region and not the political party as a whole
hmm
no you didn't
God bless, Jesus loves you and died for you all
When I was a kid I though the electoral college was a college that people went to train for being president
The electoral college trains the people to be 'presidential' - sounds good, eh?
Same
You mean like law/business school?
That makes much more sense than giving random people ability to decide their government
I thought it was a collage in general 💀💀
When your state has more senators than representatives lol
@Derek Wotton No, some have 2 senators and 1 representative
At least it better than having more White House than representatives lol
@Derek Wotton The video literally gave Vermont as an example of a state that has one representative and two senators.
Alaska
*cough cough* Wyoming *cough* Vermont *COUGH* Alaska *cough* like 4 more.
you can be elected as president with 21.9% of the popular vote... yea thats democracy...
CGP right?
USA isn’t a democracy. It’s a democratic republic.
@@brycepowell6639 define republic
@@brycepowell6639 define democratic
We aren’t a democracy
This is a terrible way to decide who becomes King of the Jungle
A great Grey reference
Queen Lion would not be pleased
Nice grey reference
Come on it's a jungle itself😂😂
It's actually not
“In America, we do it a little… differently” If that isnt the understatement of the century
Murica baby 😎
Electoral votes are allocated among the States based on the Census. Every State is allocated a number of votes equal to the number of Senators and Representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation-two votes for its Senators in the U.S. Senate plus a number of votes equal to the number of its Congressional districts The above statement is why democrat politicians want and need illegal immigration. The more people in a district, the more electoral votes. Its really so simple
@@justinsmith4157When were non registered people granted permission to vote in our elections?
@@richardgeorge2250 Hello Richard, I am honestly not trying to be rude when I say that you need to do better when reading a statement and replying. I said nothing even remotely close to what you suggested. In fact, I stated my point very clearly. Allow me to try again.... The more humans (no matter what their citizen status is) in a district = more electoral votes. Electoral votes are what determines the President. Please read with an open mind and consider the simple words before you reply. Have a great day!
@@justinsmith4157 No
Electoral College: “We were created because our founding fathers didn’t want the elections to be decided by 4 states” Also the Electoral College: “the election will be decided to those who wins 4-5 swings states”
According to my research they made the electoral college to protect the minority
Americans as a whole should decide an election: not individual states. It is time to open a democratic system in America
@@1brickrow America has been a republic and the electoral college helps balance the power of city folk and folk who live in rural areas (which they are the minority).
Yes not two states N.Y.&California
@@atiermma why would you artificially add to the power of the rural/minority through an electoral college?
It's like rejecting the metric system wasn't enough they had to have the weirdest voting system.
Yep I dont know why we use a different system.
@@BBSleepIn Well voting by popular vote doesn’t really get an accurate picture of people all across the United States. Take for example California alone having more people than Canada. The urban areas have a huge population and usually vote in similar ways. The more rural voters would be constantly overshadowed by the urban voters if there wasn’t an electoral college
@@reaganhill7007 in such areas aren't you able to vote representatives that reflect your State or local make up.
@@tkhannibal2476 of course but I’m stating the population densities are hard to get over regardless of whether you are choosing your local representatives imo
@@reaganhill7007 A win by a popular vote would actually be a good thing. That would force both parties to change strategies and make both parties more centrist rather than radical right vs. radical left... everybody's interest would be heard just as loud without giving an advance to either the cities or the rural areas. Everybody else in the world does it... and none of them ever complain that they need an electoral college lol
Presidential candidates: Your vote matters! Electoral College: Yesn’t
Pretty much!
@delta 4684 Especially since most states do a winner takes all system!
@@eleazaralmazan4089 practically Florida, Pennsylvania Michigan and Ohio are deciding the election
LOL
How. If not swing state. Doesnt matter
America really said *"I'm quirky and different."*
So does ur profile
Germany Pakistan Latvia South Africa and Madagascar: Are we a joke to you
These guys measure in feet, what do you expect?
The REAL reason is because you cant get either party to agree on anything. even if they both want it, one of them will disagree just out of sheer spite and pettiness.
No to me republicans are spitefully don't get me wrong but if it's about power both are power hungry also the EC is a favor to the minority and whoever is in the minority will never give that power up and the majority can't stop them. Dem or republicans. The one thing that is dif is the Republicans are more spiteful but that can change to one day tho that is largely besides the point both parties want power first and foremost
"Most democracies around the world elect their leader by popular vote" yeah that's called democracy
*direct democracy,the greek ekklesia, or "mob rule". Something that our founding fathers didnt want. Debated whether it was for good intentions or not till this day.
@@polkunus A direct democracy is a system in which the people vote for the LAWS, not their representatives. We'd still be a representative democracy and a constitutional republic if we changed or abolished the electoral college
Yeah, I’m not so sure a lot of these countries are “ democratic” many of them are in truth socialist.
they seem to think that democracy is bad
America is a republic
There’s everyone else in the world then there is America...
In Brazil, there's a very technologic way to vote. People don't know how to choose their president, tho...
@@brenofranco4187 as somebody who has family living in brazil, I completely agree
@Kavindu Wimalaratne I can speak as an American, and I can confirm, it is clown land, we even have a few clowns in office!
@Kavindu Wimalaratne What do you mean you don't know why? America is like, the greatest country to so many Non-Americans and Americans, the one with the endless possibilities. Now look at your politics. THAT is why so many people see it as a clown land.
@Michael Myers sureeee
"Mom can we have democracy?" "We have democracy at home." Democracy at home:
Best comment here.
Because this country has always been a republic
“The people? You cant trust the people” -electoral college
Yes, this actually exactly the actual reason. Democracy isn't at all even closely in actuality what people think it is. The majority can be wrong. The electoral college is a safeguard for if that happens.
@@vasilijnokhrin voz just wants mob rule and democrats to control everything and literally obliterate the Republican Party
Isn’t that a quote from CGP grey?
In a democracy not everything gets to be decided by a vote. Things that involve public safety and the well being of the population as a whole is not normally left up to the voters. Unfortunately, our elected officials are letting the voters decide in these matters. And this has set a terrible precedent that has jeopardized public safety.
That is in fact what Alexander Hamilton says about the reason for the electoral college, from Federalist Paper #68: "the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations."
"In america we do it a little different"
cracked me up hahahah
that sums up a lot of things
"In America we do not have real democracy"
@@nevermore9116 ppl always think “real democracy” is popular vote. It’s so annoying
@@nevermore9116 America is a flawed democracy.
I love it when everbody gets excited about presidential elections, but as soon as its local elections for something that may actually benefit you sooner everybody ignores it
I always tell people this forget the president who’s your mayor and local congressman and neighborhood advocate that’s what really matters but even tho that may be rigged .
You gotta' point.
Why did you steal my sandwich ☹️☹️
Both matter (obviously) but I agree that they need to push the local elections more
Congrats to Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton! The famous couple are newly engaged! Tell us what you think in the comments!
I love talking about getting rid of the electoral college for a few days after an election then completely forgetting about it until the next election.
Unfortunately though there’s a slim to nil chance of it happening since you need a 2/3 House and Senate vote (as well as 38 states I think)
I think it should bc it would make votes matter for republicans in new york and ca and democrat votes for alabama and florida
It’s worse considering that rural californians have no power so much for giving rural people more power in elections
"Their biggest defender has always been those benefited the most from it" Nooo waaayyyy
“In America, we do it a little... differently” One way to put it
We love to be quirky.
We’re not like other countries ✨✨✨🍔🍟
This comes from the people who measure stuff in *feet.*
Let's be honest here guys, the USA is the biggest democratic country in the world, by a huge margin. So yes, some things work differently in a country that has states bigger than most EU countries. Some things have to be different to account for all of the people living there.
@@MartinWasTaken I wish we were a democracy
"America does it a little differently" America does lots of things a little different and nobody knows why
America does a lot of things differently and a civics course should have told you why
’merica
They still follow gun laws from 200 years ago and their healthcare is probably 500 years behind
Not useally for the better
@@carlgharis7948 like healthcare and education? 😂😂😂
"The US is the only country that uses one" the vatican: am i a joke to you?
Does it?
I suppose there is a certain similarity with the Cardinals.
@@thestatkid5583 Yes, the cardinals elect one cardinal to be the pope and pope = leader
Germany and Pakistan also uses a form of Electoral College
the vatican't
"Its biggest defenders have always been those who benefit the most from it." - seems like every story from US
That is in fact true all over the world, but the US made the catastrophic mistake of, in many cases, letting the people who oversee these systems be the very ones who benefit from them. It's especially bad when it comes to gerrymandering, but there are so many examples of poorly thought out political systems in the US...
And its history is rooted in slavery and racism... Just like anything from the US basically
@@ginandromeda1618 I'd encourage you to read up on US history because this statement is highly inaccurate.
@Trvp Visuals yes a civil war over slavery, so obviously there were those who didn't appreciate slavery. You just proved my point.
@Jassinth Thiagarajah ~ Yep, we see that the NRA will Benefit the Most & Americas 2nd Amendment will Live forever!! GOD forbid!!
"In america we do it a little diffrently" What a underestimation.
*"...a little diffrently"*
No, most of the federal states chose their leaders the same way. They just do it through parliamentary elections, instead of a separate institution. Just imagine that the senate appoints a president and you get an idea.
Watch 3:14, that's what matters. Each state has the power to actually influence the outcome of the election rather than only the states with largest population controlling the election.
Understatement.
@@JMK948 dude, you just made me comeback to this comment. Why tf did i say underestimation not understatement loll
Whatever she explained went above my head. Only the Americans are capable of complicating a simple thing. I say keep life simple.
It’s not your system so don’t worry about it.
I think its important tht a layer of protection is added to the popular vote..the electoral college serves tht purpose. It's actually an important factor in why america is able to be so big and efficient vs the mess tht is the eu.
@@Cherry-pu4mxall checks and balances. Vox noticeably didn’t emphasize that the electoral college protects the aspiration of the minority. States with fewer people should not be thrown under the bus.
@@mugbeer9440 Don’t they have the Senate for that already?
@@Jean-PierreGrenier-yl3wp the senate is 1 tier higher than the house and works as an electoral college of legislators (2 reps per state) but the senate’s main duty is creating law.
Why is racism the explanation of all things in America?
Because racism plays a major part in American history.
Yeah but not a lot of rassisim in America anymore which make me Happy
@@angrydad9740 there is still plenty of racism in America, as compared to other developed countries like Germany
@@common_undead well yeah against white people
@@common_undead although I have never experience racism
Voters in the U.S. : So, we get to vote for who leads our country? The Electoral College: *Well yes, but actually no*
Usually they do.
True
It’s all an elusion to make American citizens feel like they have a choice. This was never a democracy. It’s an oligarchy.
Another way to put it is if you're a democrat in a Republican state, your vote doesn't matter. The electoral college creates segregation. The u.s. is not a democracy
@@thewanderer281 Last time I checked, the name of my country was United states of America not United states of California and new york
Fun fact, in Texas there’s a ranch with the same size as the state of Rhode Island
would that just be my 2 acre back yard?
That is a fun fact, thank you for brightening my day
🤭🤣🤣
There are more horses in Wyoming than humans Edit: misremembered the state. It’s right now lol
Pretty cool
Because of the electoral college and the way it is set up, unless you live in a swing state your vote does not count. Candidates only visit the states that can be swing and ignor all the others. I live in Illinois and my vote does not matter, the sate always votes blue. Just like a vote in Oklahoma doesn't matter since it always votes red.
actually Oklahoma does theirs like the house and you can get a split vote I think Maine does too.
@@eternityk6823 no thats nebraska
This is about the dumbest voting system I've ever seen. How is this democratic?!
Here in the Australia, the person with the popular vote wins. There is no ‘electoral college’
I mean indirect democracies are still democracies
we're not a democracy-
@@missystephenson8806 we are we're just not a direct democracy
America is more of a collaboration of independent states rather than a unified country.
I love how all of these election videos are sponsored by vodka, we’ll need it soon.
"Akon.... Why wait???... Its drinking-time somewhere in the world, just look at the world clock, pick a country and Salute!!🙌🥃🙌
Not even lying I was reading this post and got that ad
If Biden wins, yes
A Russian drink.
its called targeted ads because you dont use a vpn, old people dont understand how the internet works, i dont have any vodka ads, youre probably a drinker
When I was a kid I use to think electoral college meant that colleges and college student decides the votes
You were basically a fool
that would honestly be better, letting the people who have actually studied and experienced many different things vote.
I don't know who needs to hear this, you've got to stop saving money. Invest some part of it, if you really want financial freedom.
Invest in bitcoin, gold, silver, buy stock, forex market, commodities. Just invest and save yourself.
@nancy lovely Hey dude, this is 2020. People who aren't even traders make money from the crypto and forex markets and moreover there are already financial analysts and trading experts(PhDs) who have shelled out theories and ideas for years on how bit coin technically grows.
@@larryhenry5689 Exactly, Very Good point ✌🏻
If you think you're too lazy to trade or learn how to trade, just know I have some friends who invest in a platform where and experts devotes their time and help them trade and they get paid profit every week
@@d_kenDr. Steve Clarke runs and investment platform like that, I paid in €18,500 just last week though its not the first time, and I got a paid profit of €39,600. It's been an amazing experience with him
Imagine if Trump wins the popular vote on election night and Biden wins the electoral college. That would be really awkward.
Maybe the electoral college can finally be gotten rid of then
@@KirkulesGames I wish, unfortunately without the support of 38 states at least, and a majority of the House and Senate, a constitutional amendment is impossible. Maybe if Trump loses the electoral college, but wins the popular vote, it would get the republicans to do a major flip on how they view the electoral college, crazier things have happened, but that would be such a major shift in American politics that I just don't see that happening. It would require that they see a major constitutional crisis happening, but so far they do not, or at least they are not seeing it correctly because we have one unfolding right now with the president attempting to steal the election.
@@KirkulesGames Yeah if it's not beneficial anymore to the Southern Senators they might not oppose it anymore.
Trump will not win the popular vote. It's not possible.
Hopefully, just the state of California alone would erase any possibility of that ever happening. It’s CERTAIN states that favor Trump...hmmmm, I wonder whyyyy(she says super sarcastically lol)
Honestly putting the candidates into the hunger games would be more efficient at this point
I can imagine Teddy Roosevelt beating up every candidate for each election.
Ikr
MMA fight.
It wouldn’t be very entertaining cause most of them are quite old and unfit
Oh no, we be seeing boxers swearing in office
I think removing the winner takes all rule will solve a huge chunk of this problem. What is the process to make that happen?
Fantastic video on this topic. I didnt have too much time to research this topic and just wanted to have some insight into it and it was explained superbly here.
I always laugh to myself when someone says voting day is the one day every American is equal.
It is, we all get a vote and an opinion. Don’t like it? Then don’t vote. (Even though I think every American should)
@@jessecheesevu3525 Bruh Did u even watch the video??
@@charliewalton3942 whole thing, people don’t want to admit it but it’s a good system. Used to be rigged to benefit white people but now it counts for everyone
@@jessecheesevu3525 but why should different people's votes matter more than other people votes?
@@drabberfrog because that’s how the electoral college works? It’s not a popular vote
the vodka sponsorship really makes this. we're gonna need it.
He’ll yeh we will bruh
Fr lol
absolut.....ely
@@isaiahkvelez maybeeeeeeee....?
"...Abolut doesn't affect our editorial..." yeahhhh.... rightttt okayyyy lol
3:07 Smoothest transition I've ever seen
It’s like one of those small print things at the bottom of papers that companies don’t want you to see
"presented by absolut" ah yes the only thing to get me through this election
I'm 100% sure the Founding fathers were on Absolut when they made the Electoral College.
That logo has such gravitas and authority...I mean, it ends with a period. It’s definitive.
I'm partial to Grand Marnier, frankly
Best Invideo Advertising Ive seen in a long time bhahahaha
Cheers, I'll drink to that bro!
Everything in this country is so complicated
on purpose and you know why
I guess the public education didn’t do its job
I don't think it's complicated - I see it as legalized racial marginalization.
There’s a method to the madness, while vox says that it makes it to where your vote doesn’t count as much, it really makes your vote count more, because mathematically if you vote on a smaller scale, you would be worth a larger percentage than if you voted on a national level. So your vote is worth more in every state, and then in order to win the election, the president has to win a majority of the states electoral votes. Although, personally I think every state should just be worth one electoral vote. That way every state is worth the same amount, and the president has to win a majority of the states.
Checks and balances.
Great video! Explained a lot. Thanks for clarifying how the system really works. 😊
Well they left out a lot of rather important factors. Like the fact that the founders did not anticipate states switching to winner takes all. Originally it was implemented as a proportional delegation. So it was effectively a popular vote with a bit of power nudged to the minority states. In fact, Andrew Jackson and James Madison attempted to introduce a constitutional amendment that would stop winner takes all after states started to adopt it but it failed to pass. The founders were explicitly against a direct democracy but the current version of the electoral college is not what it was intended to be.
(it doesn't work)
The data visualisation on this is nothing short of superb
somebody actually mentioned Vermont, I didn't know that was possible
Same🤣🤣 I forgot that was even a state.
I’m from Vermont and our votes don’t matter. No matter what Biden wins here
Lol I feel like I hear about it all the time because of Bernie Sanders and Ben and Jerry’s. Connecticut on the other hand...
I just know what Vermont is due to me being in New England
Bonus points: Vermont is mentioned without it being about Bernie
This is more like a board-game, play wisely if you want to an American President.
More like buy every media outlet, divide the country and mislead people into waging a war against each other.
@@myhouse5802 and mislead don’t forget that as well!
if its all about popular vote...democratic party would win alot more frequently, because more people live at eastern/western coasts and they are more inclined toward democrat over republican..
@@HaHa-kl3hx so are you saying that's why they still keep the electoral college so that it can be fair for the other states. Just asking im not from America
A classic game of the Risk board game.
I don’t live in the US, I live in Australia. My state has had its GST taxes stolen and sent to the more populous cities, while we see messily returns of 10%, other states are seeing huge returns of 200-300% of their total GST output. If it wasn’t for our debate, which is equal to every state, I highly doubt that we would have seen the changes that we are seeing today (the federal government finally being fair). So what does this have to do the the IS and it’s Electoral College? Because it shows you how important it is to have smaller states get a small leg up. For the sake of all citizens.
smart perspective it's about not diefrachising the rest of the country .
Why because of people “vote blue no matter who”
All people are equal, but some people are more equal than others.
.....and yet they say that the Indian's marriage concept is confusing.
George orwell
Straight from animal farm
For once someone quotes Orwell correctly.
Animal farms, a man of culture
So your telling me that the election’s outcome is determined by the Florida Man? 😂
Haha
The craziest of the crazies come from Florida....
No, it's determined by you. If you're a California Democrats and you don't vote, thank you, Republican will win the states. Just because Florida is usually the states that puts people through 270 doesn't mean the other 240 votes don't matter. They do, ask Hillary and what happened to Wisconsin?
I am that Florida Man
I said the same thing. We’re DOOMED. Lol.
An uncanny resemblance to our first past the post system of seats here in the UK and we too have swing seats (I live in one). Many have campaigned to change it to proportional representation but those that benefit from the antiquated system have ensured it doesn’t change (our law chamber is entirely UNeleted but apparently it’s the EU who we should fear with their fully elected law chamber and elected MEPs through PR voting). The current UK government have a majority but only got 43% of the vote in 2019 yet that was a landslide and gave them even more voting power in the House of Commons. Our system doesn’t represent the people and yet the people are like servants, they keep voting their master back in and wondering why nothing changes. It’s beyond frustrating to witness.
Did anyone notice on the graph that shows the support to remove the Electoral College, the line looks just like the US's border with Canada?
The electoral college legit makes the election play out like a weird strategy board game. That's fun and all for a board game but not for deciding the most powerful person in the country.
It's either that or have it like it is in canada where only 2 of 13 provinces get any attention
@@simonkoeman3310 yep, I hate it here in Canada
@@simonkoeman3310 Well that's also because these 2 provinces are home to nearly half the population of the country, and most of the time after the election, one of them become an afterthought and the country just focus Ontario.
@Sheima Ali I love the land, but the political system here is lacking
most powerful person in the world*
The graph of support for replacing the EC is just a map of the US-Canada border
Thanx for clearing that up I was so confused
After watching tons of vids about electoral college, my confusion came down from 99% to 96. Good job vox.
EXACTLY
If you haven’t seen CGP Grey’s videos on the EC already, I highly recommend them
Tell me about it
It’s really not that complicated.
@Jacob Soares what’s not this year?
If only politicians actually cared about citizens...
Same
If only you all actually stopped voting for politicians
yep i dont really support either biden or trump but aoc is a real one tbh
Edgy
@@jeteveux344 nah aoc is pro choice so she wants your taxes so you’re money to go to killing babies and not giving them a chance at life
The problem with the Electoral College isn't the Electoral College. The problem with the Elecotral College is the method by which 48 states allocate their Electoral College votes following the presidential results. 48 states allocate all their Electoral College votes by WTA, in which the winner of the states' results by popular vote, no matter how small or big, whether 30% or 70%, are delivered to the winner. Only 2 states, Maine and Nebraska, allocate their Electoral College votes closer to the in-state popular vote. The method used by Maine and Nebraska should be the standard by which true voting results are translated to Electoral College votes.
🎯
I disagree solely on the basis that you could then gerrymander the presidential election - I think it should be proportionally done, not by districts. If you win 45% of the vote, you should win 2 of 4 votes, or 4 out of 10 votes, etc.
The number of representatives in each state are determined by that states population
The added two votes per state (for senators) give far too much power to smaller states - Wyoming and Vermont has 3 votes for 600K people, Texas has 38 votes for 29 million (about 3.8 times less power for Texas voters).
‘If Voting Made a Difference, They Wouldn’t Let Us Do It’ Mark Twain
That's a good one. Did he actually say that? I refer to the movie 'trading places', when explaining how our two-party system works.
Woah thats deep man
For the state...
@@blank2588 Fact is that any presidential candidate not a Democrat or Republican doesn’t have a decent chance in the Electoral College
This sounds like a weird rule for a game...
@K Will Criticizing a system that can potentially have negative consequences isn't a bad thing. Other democratic countries adopted systems that values every vote, like in Canada-where I'm from. If something can be done better, it's worth looking into. I understand today is a huge deal for Americans. Best of luck to you all!
@K Will how is it TYRANNY when it’s each individual person voting??? Each vote should count equally! I’m tired of people in the middle of nowhere, Iowa deciding what happens to the rest of the more progressive population
@K Will wow! the irony. electoral college prevents tyranny because the states with most numbers would dictate states with smaller numbers? last time I check "tyranny" in a dictionary it was synonymous with "dictatorship" which do "dictates"
The number of likes tho. 🤷🏽♀️
K Will that‘s nonsense. It didn’t prevent tyranny and it wasn‘t successfully in that given that usa had slaves for a freaking long time. But that’s american education for y‘all, let‘s pretend the bad stuff didn‘t happen, if you don’t count them, then we‘re great!
Honorary swing states are the states where swing music is prominent.
If people find this ridiculous they should google gerrymandering and how it makes this system even more scuffed than Vox has explained it.
"Why hasn't the USA gotten rid of the Electoral College yet?" Because when one party tries to do it the other blocks it on principle of "it's something the other party has suggested".
IKR, "United"States indeed.
Or maybe, just maybe, because 2|3 of the states won't approve such amendment.
@Star Star because any third parties dont get many votes because there is no ranked choice voting, and no third party gets many votes, and so voting for a third party is basically the same as throwing away your vote.
Don't forget that the founding fathers came up with it and they are the closest thing to living gods
@@owenb8636 Didn't they support slavery and other horrible things?
"To be honest with you, I do not understand the United States" . Well said a year ago by New Zealand's prime minister to The Guardian 🙌🏼👏🏼
GAGAGAGAGAGA!!! I want to cut my toe nails... NEVER! I am the feet KZheadr. Thanks for being a fan, dear ruwl
@@samirbelica2358 ;)
We're kind of like Somolia without pirets
American here. I don’t understand the United States either
@@ShimSladyBrand Same.
America is a Theocracy. Not in the sense that Christianity rules the nation. But in the sense that a lot of americans worship the "Founding Fathers" as basically perfect, infallible human beings whose words cannot be wrong in any shape or form.
That ain’t a theoracy homeboy,.. what Tehran does is a theoracy,.. the founding fathers have a cult personality here in the states,., can’t really blame them for having it since they literally defeated the British Empire.,,
Wait ur supposed to vote based on your political views? I been voting my favorite color this whole time
The shocking thing for me is that voting is a choice in America. For us here in Australia voting is compulsory and you can be fined for not voting. EDIT: To everyone in the comments, I am sorry if this offended you. I was just surprised and stating an opinion. I'm just doing it here because I do not have much time to respond to all the comments and I hate having to come off as rude. So, I apologise again and everyone please stay safe!
Lasagna is just Spaghetti Cake Do you think it’s a good thing that all Australia’s have to vote or would you prefer for it to be optional
I think being forced to vote isn't necessarily ideal. Having both the ability to vote or not vote are equally valid, although i think voting is the better option personally, and overall. Perhaps an incentive for the states would be beneficially. I do think automatic voter registration at 18 and the ability for any and all legal resident to cast their vote would be better.
That's because forcing people to do things they don't want to do generally goes against the constitution. America was founded on the principle that people should be able to do whatever they want.
@@connort7308 well democracy is based on fairness and freedom. forced voting doesn't sound like freedom to me :/
@@connort7308 I honestly think it should be compulsory. I just think that would create a more fair election. But then again, there are exceptions if someone can't vote.
“The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.” - Donald J. Trump, November 6, 2012
You always hate a system, till you benefit from it. So yeah.
Humans are always like that.
its a disaster in general because its completely rigged...
@@Rikai644 not everyone, just opportunists.
@@swaggerpass8903 yes it is rigged unless if the Russian hackers would manipulate the vote. 🤣
2:57 In 2020, the state that voted the most for Donald Trump(in terms of numbers) was California. You'd expect California to be a very liberal state, but no. California just governed by liberals. Out of the state's 53 representatives, only 11 are Republican. Both senators are Dems, Speaker Pelosi is from California and the vp is also from California. Despite this, California has a lot of conservatives... for now. Make a choice: High taxes, high energy costs, lots of business regulations California OR low taxes, low energy costs, business friendly Texas
Yeah, I guess California being the by far most profitable and productive state in the entire country, adding more to the US economy than like the poorest 20 states combined (a large majority of which are longtime GOP-run) is something we can conveniently overlook.
Now that was an excellent video.! Thanks for the clarification on all the lawsuits.!
for a country that values it's individualism so much it's pretty odd how an individual vote barely even matters
Who said America values individualism so much?
@@rivergamaya nice try
it does matter. the college vote for who won the popular vote in their state
Well think of it this way those swing states individual votes matter more.
@David Josephus Daniel Nuntius that is some real Southern logic you've got going there.
A similar one for the US senate would be good. It is pretty obvious by looking at the map, that power was concentrated on a first come first serve basis .. i.e the East got more power as it was able to make smaller states compared to Central/West US .. This disenfranchises voters as well as each vote doesn't count equally and even though as a country we agree on a specific viewpoint/bill , the states with more power can overrule that viewpoint.
Incorrect! Most other countries are single state formations, rather than continent sized federations of states. The EU and Switzerland are similar, federated entities, and neither of them uses a popular vote for anything.
Remember, everywhere else the term for "the popular vote" is just "THE VOTE".
nah, it depends on the electoral system. as the other commenter pointed out, places like Canada, India and the UK don't have direct systems either. Germany is... complicated, but in the end the number of votes compared to the number of people elected to the legislature is pretty close to proportional there.
Ranked choice voting would be the best option. But with how divided our country is, getting that to change will be hard. Moderates need to reject both parties and stand up. That’s how we get a real candidate we both agree on.
Watch 3:14, that's what matters. Each state has the power to actually influence the outcome of the election rather than only the states with largest population controlling the election.
@daniel wiles pardon me, I'm not American so my American knowledge is nil, but since you said “imagine if only California and Newyork” determined presidents...well how is that any different from the selected states basically determined the elections right now according to the Electoral college? And in the first case, its a matter of population, while the latter seems a little arbitrary? Not here to fight, just confused.
If you are reading this, stay strong, healthy, safe, and don't lose hope. We will overcome 2020's adversities soon with kindness, resilience and resistance. During these dark times there is always hope in the middle of the fear. There are good news: God promises to be with you because he loves you. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16. I just want to let everyone know that Jesus loves you with a passion more than you can imagine. He gave his life so you can be free and have a relationship with him. Its never too late in this life to put your trust in him. If you're experiencing fear, cast all your burdens on Jesus because he cares for you. If you've got pain He's a pain taker If you feel lost He's a way maker If you need freedom or saving He's a prison-shaking Savior If you've got chains He's a chain breaker. Don't let your heart be troubled in these times. I wish you the best day.
This doesn’t explain the electoral college, it is an ad to get rid of it.
It does explain it, i didn't really understood what it was before watching this video, now I do
This is the year that i’ve learned this. I was so confused by the presidential election.
"In America we do it a little differently" could apply to so many stuff
@@PratyushSinghclassified sorry English is not my native language so i have the right to make every single mistake possible
@@marvit5316 just ignore him lol Even native speakers make mistakes. Plus you’re on the internet, not writing an essay to hand it
@@marvit5316 yes
@@cee_el thanks for the support guys😔✊
@@PratyushSinghclassified "it's my third language too" coherence where? u r a joke
The winner takes all system per state is by far the worst issue. Someone shouldn't win all the votes for a state if they get 50.01% of the vote for that state.
If the Electoral College goes away, state Borders must go away. We already have a popular vote. That popular vote in your state turns your state blue or red and then the state votes for the president. The reason this matters is because every state has a different perspective and deserve to be heard in order for a balanced decision.
@@r3vmixman bad take
@@r3vmixman this is the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard. There isn’t a single state that is entirely Democrat or Republican. The electoral college literally suppresses voters based on where they live and makes the whole process much more complicated than if we just use popular vote. This will make the Candidates better because they can’t rely on their state winning because of party.
Then why don't more states split their votes by congressional districts? It is a perfect compromise between the popular vote and the Electoral College
@@loganwolf1188 exactly. the electoral system discourages people from voting, except for the people living in swing states. but if you're a republican in calofornia or a democrat in alaska there is literally no reason to bother
In America : Trump vs Biden In Russia : Putin vs Putin
From Merrium Webster: "The short answer is that democracy and republic are frequently used to mean the same thing: a government in which the people vote for their leaders. This was the important distinction at the time of the founding of the United States, in direct contrast with the rule of a king, or monarchy, in Great Britain. In part because that context was clear to everyone involved in the American Revolution, these terms were used interchangeably in the late 1700s."
The shocking thing for me is that voting is a choice in America. For us here in Australia voting is compulsory and you can be fined for not voting.
wowww
It's a choice here in the UK too, why do you get fined?
Worse still, in America, they think if they don’t vote they still have a right to complain. Sorry Karen, if you want change then you need to step up and vote!
woahh that’s actually kinda cool bc like doesn’t that push your people to stay in touch with politics and just overall become more involved? i honestly wish America had that same requirement.
😭😭😭Wow
"...sponsored by Absolut" Yes, because no matter the result, we will ALL need a drink afterwards!
... Or beforehand
Absolute clear vodka filtered 9 times is my favourite vodka
@@CesarGomez-nw4zt or all of the above.
@@CesarGomez-nw4zt don’t forget during
I don’t know how people drink man honestly, every time I do I get a headache lol.
i dont like the electoral college but i dont want the nice guy on the smartboard to lose his job
I have never heard a good argument for the Electoral College. I am so glad I don't live in USA.
The popular vote is just like the metric system. America will never use it even though it’s much more logical.
I think it is also important to note that a popular vote would mean that the states with the largest population decide the president. The electoral college allows smaller states to have a larger impact on the national scale.
@@koshersa1t did you forget that the senate exists? Why shouldn’t the president be a national vote? The senate does exist. Why do you think particular states with less people than single cities matter more? Why should the minority rule?
@@koshersa1t did you miss the part of the video that shows most states have large republicans and democrats? You know California has the most republicans of any state.
The reason we have the electoral college is to allow more equal representaion of the minority and majority. That representation is what makes us a republic. If we had a popular vote system like other "Democratic" states, which we aren't, only the majority will have representation over the minority since the majority outnumbers the minority.
@@areallyboredguy5825 It is tyranny of the minority
And, if I am not mistaken, the electoral can still decide to vote differently than what the state's popular vote dictated. They may be fined, but it is a slap on the wrist kind of thing with not real consequence.
It doesn’t really matter because it’s a tradition and all of them almost always are following this tradition
If they don't vote as they should they would have to go into hiding.
Those who voted against who they're supposed to can be replaced or have their vote invalidated, but that's according to state laws
@@juch3 no, nowhere in the constitution does it say that the representatives of that sate have to vote according to popular vote, the representatives are activated and can vote according to what they want.
The shocking thing for me is that voting is a choice in America. For us here in Australia voting is compulsory and you can be fined for not voting.
What about changing the electoral college? So that the electoral votes still exist, but they are distributed by rounding up the percentage of a state. So for example a state has 20 electoral votes... the dems get 63% and Republicans 37%... so rounded up it would equal to 12 democratic votes and 8 republican votes. This way everyone's vote still matters.
0:31 in Germany we also don't vote directly for the chancellor but rather a local partyman who will then vote for the the candidate of the party. Most democracies in the world aren't direct democacies (meaning you vote directly for candidate x and only the popular vote counts). Many countries have a representative democracy where also a coalition of two smaller partys could outnumber the singular party with the most votes.
This is why people dont vote and feel it doesn't matter.
The system was and is built for white Christians, sadly
@@ivana4638 No?
This and other reasons too, such as the process and the requirements needed to register for voting and voting for various representatives in your state and local elections (this is an issue for many new voters and voters in general, since it's a long process and many voters aren't interested in educating themselves with the candidates who are representing their state and the local elections).
Except that the electoral vote is based on the popular vote in the state
@@LoneWolf-uv2tc Yeah, it is.
I’ll be back here in 4 years, around if not the same day.
remind me
aite
Look at Lebron man so beautiful
yee
GOAT
Basically it’s so that the most populated states don’t have overwhelming power over less populated states (example; California, New York, Florida,Texas, Etc..) with the popular vote these types of states would be calling the shots the majority of the time, while leaving the rest of the less populated states silent(Hence; Alaska, Nebraska, Wyoming,Etc..) which too me is undemocratic.
I don’t follow that reasoning. There’s no reason to think about states. Forget states. Let every person have the same amount of influence over the election.
@@clankb2o5 I agree with you on this. You are voting for the president of the United States not the president for a certain state. So no his arguemnet doesn't make sense, that's why you have a governor
"the electoral college is based-" gonna have to stop you right there
I learned about the Electoral College for the first time in school, as a seventh grader in 1999. I remember being shocked that it was theoretically possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote and yet win the election, something that, at the time, hadn’t happened in more than a century. Never did I imagine I’d see it happen twice in my lifetime!
@El Dimos Karam Americans who are all for popular vote don't understand the problem it brings with it. I am from India and it's the same problem. Distribution of resources is skewed. They are truly better off for having ec I think.
@El Dimos Karam the usa doesn't have 20 percent employment it has less than half of that
Our whole country of Mexico is run by one city, that's why there's now a movement (nortexit) to abandon the federal covenant from the northern states; they are tired of federal budget mismanagement and contributing a great percentage of it only to see very little back. America is so privileged to have an electoral college, please don't give it up; you'll cease to have a union.
Happened with John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote his first time running but lost the election. His next time running he won by a landslide just remember this is the same guy who supported the Trail of Tears and the destruction of Banks.
Popular vote is dangerous! If more guys are in the USA they can vote that all woman walk around naked or else they go to jail so yeah bad idea
The fact that videos exist explaining how this system doesn't make sense every election says a lot.
America is the only one that needs a tutorial on how voting works LOL
It makes sense if you are not a simpleton
The electoral college is so 5 mega states don’t control the whole country. It’s the US election not the Texas, Cali and NY election.
@@AZ_YA_BISH I know how it works, but obviously you're here watching the video. You must be a simpleton then.
@@VickMarie someone sent it to me thinking it would change my mind for some reason. but I found entertainment in simpletons like you all in the comments who don't understand this is a republic not a democracy but nice try lol
Nebraska and Maine have a unique system to determine their Electoral College votes called the Congressional District Method
Moral of story: be a swing state
If you use the popular vote, the entire country becomes a swing state. (That’s a good thing.)
@@somebodysomewhere3451 No, because then at that point the states with high population densities would become swing states. i.e. New York with NYC and CA with LA, SF, SD
@@garrettord trump is leading the polls in California. Riots are starting already
@@garrettord California and New York combined do not equal over 50%. I don't want to hear anything when Texas turns blue then. You had your chance.
@@somebodysomewhere3451 Not the whole country.. States with larger populations would be electing the President for generations. At least in the current system of swing States, Politicians are forced to campain on the smaller States, and the fact that swing States change every few election cycles. So no, it is not a good thing by any definition, it's pure tyranny.