Adam Ruins Everything - Why the Electoral College Ruins Democracy

Summary

The video humorously critiques the Electoral College system in the U.S., highlighting its undemocratic aspects. It explains how smaller states have disproportionately more electoral power than larger ones, and how swing states dominate presidential elections, leaving many voters' voices unheard. The script also reveals the complex and often overlooked role of electors, who can vote independently in some states. The video touches on the founding fathers' intentions, the system's flaws, and historical attempts to abolish it, all while maintaining a comedic and engaging tone.

Takeaways

• 📊 The Electoral College system disproportionately favors smaller states, giving voters in states like Wyoming more influence than those in larger states like California.
• ⚖️ Wyoming has one electoral vote for every 135,000 voters, while California has one for every 411,000 voters, creating an imbalance in voter power.
• 🌍 The entire election outcome is often determined by a few swing states, leading to most of the country being ignored by presidential candidates.
• 🗳️ Swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio dominate election focus, while up to 80% of votes nationwide may have little impact on the result.
• 💡 Many states, including Texas and California, have significant minority votes for the 'other' party, but the winner-take-all system invalidates these votes.
• 🏛️ Electors are the individuals who actually cast votes for the president, and they are often party insiders or former politicians.
• 🤷‍♂️ In 24 states, electors aren't required to vote according to the popular vote, and there have been over 80 instances where electors didn't follow the public's choice.
• 😮 An example from 2004 shows an elector mistakenly casting a vote for the wrong candidate, demonstrating the system's potential for error.
• 📅 The Electoral College has been criticized for centuries, but efforts to abolish it have faced significant political resistance.
• 🔙 The Founding Fathers originally designed the Electoral College, but they didn't intend for most Americans, including women and non-landowners, to have voting rights.

Q & A

What is the main criticism of the Electoral College presented in the script?

The main criticism is that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives unequal power to voters depending on their state, with smaller states having disproportionately more influence compared to larger states.

How does the voting power in Wyoming compare to California in the Electoral College?

In Wyoming, one electoral vote represents approximately 135,000 voters, whereas in California, one electoral vote represents around 411,000 voters. This means Wyoming voters have roughly three times more power in the Electoral College compared to California voters.

What are swing states, and why are they significant in the Electoral College system?

Swing states are states that do not consistently vote for the same political party, making them critical for candidates to win. They are significant because they determine the outcome of the election, leading presidential candidates to focus their campaigns almost entirely on these states, while ignoring others.

How does the Electoral College affect the way presidential candidates campaign?

Presidential candidates focus their efforts on swing states, like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, because these states determine the election's outcome. This results in most of the country being largely ignored during campaigns.

What percentage of votes in recent elections had no impact on the outcome, according to the script?

According to the script, up to 80% of all votes cast in recent elections had no impact on the outcome due to the focus on swing states.

Why are most states considered 'purple,' according to the script?

Most states are considered 'purple' because they have a significant number of voters supporting both political parties. For example, millions of Texans voted Democrat, and millions of Californians voted Republican in 2012, showing that these states are not purely 'red' or 'blue.'

What would happen if electoral votes were awarded proportionately instead of using the winner-take-all system?

If electoral votes were awarded proportionately, candidates from both parties would receive a share of each state's electoral votes. For example, in 2012, 16 of Texas's electoral votes would have gone to Obama, and 20 of California's would have gone to Romney, providing more representation for minority party voters in each state.

Who are the electors in the Electoral College, and what role do they play?

Electors are individuals, often retired politicians or party affiliates, who cast the official votes for president on behalf of their states. When people vote in a presidential election, they are actually voting to select these electors.

Can electors vote differently from the popular vote in their state?

Yes, in 24 states, electors are not legally bound to vote according to the popular vote, and there have been over 80 instances where electors voted differently from what was expected, sometimes due to mistakes or personal decisions.

What is the historical context of the Electoral College as explained in the script?

The Electoral College was designed by the founding fathers, who intended for a complex system of electing the president. They did not originally envision universal suffrage, excluding most Americans, including women and people without property, from voting.