11-01-2004, 01:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-01-2004, 01:37 AM by Zarathustra.)
As an opening to this post, I'd like to say that I am going to vote for Bush in the upcoming elections. I'm not saying this to spark debate over which candidate is the better choice, etc., since by now I assume the majority of the US Lurkers have made up their minds on the issue. I put the spotlight on this because when I vote, I'll know fully that my vote will not aid Bush at all.
That's right, chances are that my vote will not matter at all.
Living in Illinois, it's almost a given that the state will go Democratic. The Chicagoland area especially has a history of voting Democratic and I doubt this year will be any exception. Hence, my vote will do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the election. It could contribute to the chances of the candidate of my choice, but chances are it will not.
Now, I'll be voting nonetheless, but I'd to post this question for discussion: what would be a good replacement to our current system of the Electoral College? I feel there are aspects of it which are quite antiquated, and dislike the way it forces the system to remain bipartisan (with an Independant candidate thrown in for good measure, even if he has no chance of success), but it does ensure that the winning candidate will have a majority vote (electoral votes, I know). To completely abolish it could result in a system where 5 candidates run for office and the one with 25% of the nation behind him comes out victorious; obviously not what we'd wish to accomplish.
I've seen lots of discussion on the Electoral College, but have yet to hear a method (nor come up with one myself) that does a better job. Any thoughts?
Additional Trivia Info: The Electors for each state are not forced to vote in agreement with that state's voting. If I were an Elector for Illinois, I could feasibly cast the state's vote for Candidate A, even though 100% of the state voted for Candidate B. In some states this is not against the law at all. In others it is a misdemeanor. Still others heighten the crime to a felony. And finally, in some states it is dubbed illegal, but there is absolutely no penalty.
That's right, chances are that my vote will not matter at all.
Living in Illinois, it's almost a given that the state will go Democratic. The Chicagoland area especially has a history of voting Democratic and I doubt this year will be any exception. Hence, my vote will do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the election. It could contribute to the chances of the candidate of my choice, but chances are it will not.
Now, I'll be voting nonetheless, but I'd to post this question for discussion: what would be a good replacement to our current system of the Electoral College? I feel there are aspects of it which are quite antiquated, and dislike the way it forces the system to remain bipartisan (with an Independant candidate thrown in for good measure, even if he has no chance of success), but it does ensure that the winning candidate will have a majority vote (electoral votes, I know). To completely abolish it could result in a system where 5 candidates run for office and the one with 25% of the nation behind him comes out victorious; obviously not what we'd wish to accomplish.
I've seen lots of discussion on the Electoral College, but have yet to hear a method (nor come up with one myself) that does a better job. Any thoughts?
Additional Trivia Info: The Electors for each state are not forced to vote in agreement with that state's voting. If I were an Elector for Illinois, I could feasibly cast the state's vote for Candidate A, even though 100% of the state voted for Candidate B. In some states this is not against the law at all. In others it is a misdemeanor. Still others heighten the crime to a felony. And finally, in some states it is dubbed illegal, but there is absolutely no penalty.
See you in Town,
-Z
-Z