Electoral College v. Popular Vote - Why it Matters
Some conservatives are projecting there will be election
interference in battleground states to thwart the re-election of Republican candidate Donald Trump. Trump supporters are spreading this claim at events and online – a gas lighting pre cursor that could lead to
another contested outcome. While some have raised valid concerns about election
security like the handling of mail-in ballots, foreign interference and the
integrity of voting machines – others are falsely claiming the last election
was won by illegal immigrants who slipped in at the Border voting. The
Constitution bans non-citizens from voting and eligibility is verified. Amplification of this misinformation narrative
can lead to more anxiety and confusion. Republicans peddled a similar idea before
the 2020 election that was the impetus for the “Stop the Steal” March on January
6.
Voters should know that there is not a speck of proof for the lies being spread.
How the legal selection of the leader of the United States actually works is that to ensure checks and balances in the election process it is the electoral college that determines who wins the presidency -- not just the popular vote. In 2000 and in 2016 candidates that had the most popular votes still lost.
To further clear up any confusion about how a president is chosen, the continue reading for a breakdown. Electoral College and the popular vote are two different systems used to elect the President of the United States.
Popular Vote:
- This is the total number of votes cast by individual citizens across the country. When you vote in a presidential election, your vote is part of the popular vote.
- In a popular vote system, the candidate with the most votes nationwide would win the election.
Electoral College:
- The Electoral College is a system established by the U.S. Constitution for electing the President and Vice President. It consists of 538 electors.
- Each state has a certain number of electors based on its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress. For example, California has 55 electors, while Wyoming has 3.
- When you vote in a presidential election, you're actually voting for a slate of electors chosen by your party who have pledged to vote for that party’s candidate.
- The candidate who wins the majority of electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) becomes President.
Differences:
Mechanism of Voting:
- Popular Vote: Directly counts individual votes.
- Electoral College: Votes are cast by electors, not directly by the public.
Impact of Votes:
- Popular Vote: Every vote has equal weight nationwide.
- Electoral College: Votes have different weights depending on the state. For instance, a vote in Wyoming has more influence per person than a vote in California due to the way electors are allocated.
Winner Determination:
- Popular Vote: The candidate with the most votes wins.
- Electoral College: The candidate with the majority of electoral votes wins, regardless of the nationwide popular vote.
Why It Matters:
- The Electoral College can result in a situation where a candidate wins the presidency without winning the popular vote. This has happened in a few elections in U.S. history, such as in 2000 and 2016.
- The system is designed to balance the influence of populous states with less populous ones, but it also means that not all votes are equal in influence, which is a point of contention in debates about electoral fairness.
