Why Your Vote Doesn't Matter | Preston Bhat | TEDxMountainViewHighSchool

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker examines the flaws of the U.S. Electoral College, highlighting how it can allow a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote. They explain the disproportionate voting power of smaller states and the winner-take-all system that discourages voter turnout in non-competitive states. The speaker advocates for the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact as a solution, allowing states to allocate electoral votes to the national popular vote winner. They encourage audience members to spread awareness and contact their legislators to support this reform, aiming to enhance fairness and representation in American democracy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Electoral College is the system used in the U.S. to elect the president, where states have a set number of electors based on their congressional representation.
• 😀 In the 2016 election, the candidate with fewer popular votes won due to the Electoral College system, highlighting its complexities.
• 😀 Each state’s electoral votes are awarded on a winner-take-all basis, which can lead to significant discrepancies in voting power among states.
• 😀 Smaller states have a disproportionate influence because every state gets at least two electoral votes, regardless of population.
• 😀 The winner-take-all approach discourages candidates from campaigning in states where they are not competitive, reducing voter engagement.
• 😀 High voter turnout is often concentrated in competitive swing states, while non-competitive states see significantly lower engagement.
• 😀 Historical examples show that it’s possible for a candidate to win the presidency while losing the popular vote, as seen in 2000 and 2016.
• 😀 Proposals to amend the system face challenges, but the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact offers a workaround by binding states to the popular vote.
• 😀 The compact requires a total of 270 electoral votes to take effect, which is feasible with a few more state agreements.
• 😀 Citizens can advocate for change by spreading awareness and contacting their state legislators to support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

Q & A

What is the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is the system used in the United States to elect the president, where each state is allocated a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress.

How are the number of electoral votes per state determined?

Each state receives electoral votes equal to the sum of its Senators (always 2) and its Representatives in the House, which varies by population.

What is the winner-take-all system?

The winner-take-all system means that the candidate who wins the most votes in a state receives all of that state's electoral votes, rather than a proportional distribution.

What are the implications of the winner-take-all system?

This system can lead to situations where a candidate wins the presidency without winning the popular vote, as only a few competitive states receive significant campaign attention.

Can you give an example of a presidential election where the Electoral College winner lost the popular vote?

Yes, this occurred in the 2000 election when Al Gore lost to George W. Bush despite receiving about 500,000 more votes nationwide, and in 2016 when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump despite having about 2.8 million more votes.

What are some criticisms of the Electoral College?

Criticisms include unequal voting power among states, the winner-take-all system leading to disengagement from voters in non-competitive states, and the potential for a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote.

What is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

This is an agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, effectively bypassing the traditional electoral system if enough states join.

How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

A candidate needs a majority of 270 out of the 538 total electoral votes to win the presidency.

What steps can individuals take to support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

Individuals can spread the word about the compact and contact their state legislators to encourage the introduction of related bills.

Why is it important for every voter to have an equal say in the election process?

Equal voting power ensures fairness and strengthens democracy, allowing for better representation and legislation that reflects the will of the people.