Penjelasan SISTEM PEMILU AMERIKA (electoral College explained)

Summary

In this video, the speaker delves into the U.S. presidential election system, specifically explaining the complexities of the Electoral College. Unlike Indonesia’s direct election system, U.S. citizens vote for electors, who then choose the president. The speaker highlights key aspects, including how electoral votes are distributed by state and how Donald Trump won the 2016 election despite losing the popular vote. The content contrasts the U.S. system with Indonesia’s, where each citizen’s vote directly counts, offering insights into the strategic importance of swing states in the U.S. election process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2020 US Presidential election showcased candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties, similar to a political contest with unpredictable dynamics.
• 😀 The US electoral system, including the electoral college, can result in unexpected outcomes, as demonstrated by Donald Trump's 2016 victory despite losing the popular vote.
• 😀 The electoral college system involves 538 electors spread across 51 states, and a candidate needs more than 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
• 😀 Unlike Indonesia's direct presidential election, American voters choose electors, who then decide the president. The results can be determined by a small margin of electoral votes.
• 😀 The system works differently in each state, with larger states having more electors, such as California with 55 and New York with 29 electors.
• 😀 A key feature of the system is the 'winner-takes-all' rule, where the party that wins a state gets all the electoral votes for that state, even with a small margin of victory.
• 😀 In 2016, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania with a slim margin of 0.73%, claiming all 20 of its electoral votes, even though Hillary Clinton won more popular votes in the state.
• 😀 Despite losing the popular vote in some areas, Trump's electoral strategy focused on winning key battleground states to secure the presidency.
• 😀 The US election system highlights the disparity between densely populated, liberal-leaning areas (e.g., California) and more conservative, rural areas.
• 😀 The political divide between progressive urban centers and conservative rural areas reflects a broader societal gap, influencing electoral outcomes in the US.
• 😀 This system differs significantly from Indonesia's direct election process, where the candidate with the most votes wins, making the US system more complex and indirect.

Q & A

What is the Electoral College, and how does it affect U.S. presidential elections?

The Electoral College is a system in which voters in each state vote for electors, who then cast their votes for president. There are 538 electors in total, and a candidate needs to secure more than 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. This system allows the winner of a state's popular vote to claim all of its electoral votes, even if the margin of victory is narrow.

How does the U.S. Electoral College differ from Indonesia's election system?

In Indonesia, citizens vote directly for the president, and the candidate with the most votes wins. In contrast, the U.S. uses the Electoral College system, where citizens vote for electors, and the electors' votes determine the winner. This means that a candidate can win the popular vote in some states but still lose the election if they don't secure enough electoral votes.

Why is the Electoral College system controversial?

The Electoral College system is controversial because it can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote. This happens when a candidate wins key states by a narrow margin, allowing them to collect enough electoral votes to win, even if they lose the overall popular vote.

How did the 2016 U.S. presidential election illustrate the issues with the Electoral College?

In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by a small margin, securing all 20 electoral votes from the state. Despite Hillary Clinton receiving more total votes nationwide, Trump won the presidency by securing more electoral votes, demonstrating how the Electoral College can lead to a president winning without a popular vote majority.

How does the number of electoral votes per state get determined?

The number of electoral votes each state gets is based on its population. States with larger populations have more electoral votes, while states with smaller populations have fewer. For example, California has 55 electoral votes, while smaller states like Wyoming have only 3.

What is the significance of Pennsylvania in the 2016 U.S. presidential election?

Pennsylvania played a critical role in the 2016 election. Donald Trump won the state by just 0.73%, earning all 20 of its electoral votes, which contributed significantly to his victory. Despite Hillary Clinton winning more popular votes nationwide, Trump's victory in Pennsylvania helped him secure the presidency.

What does the term 'winner-takes-all' mean in the context of the Electoral College?

'Winner-takes-all' means that the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that state's electoral votes, regardless of the margin of victory. This system is used by most states in the U.S., although a few states use a proportional approach.

How does the Electoral College system affect presidential campaigns in the U.S.?

The Electoral College system influences presidential campaigns by making candidates focus on swing states—states that could reasonably be won by either party. These states have a disproportionate impact on the election results, as winning them can secure a significant number of electoral votes.

Why do some people argue that the Electoral College is undemocratic?

Critics argue that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote. This creates a disparity between the will of the people and the final outcome of the election.

How did the 2000 U.S. presidential election impact people's understanding of the Electoral College?

The 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush highlighted the flaws of the Electoral College, as Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election due to Bush winning more electoral votes. This sparked debates about whether the system should be reformed or abolished.