4 ms·
One Reason Why I Don't Vote
via http://people.howstuffworks.com/question472.htm regarding the Electoral College:
"Most of the time, electors cast their votes for the candidate who has received the most votes in that particular state. Some states have laws that require electors to vote for the candidate that won the popular vote, while other electors are bound by pledges to a specific political party. However, there have been times when electors have voted contrary to the people's decision, and there is no federal law or Constitutional provision against it."
Just want to make sure people are aware of this - because I don't know a single person who is.
- qhoxie 18y agoHow exactly does not voting improve the situation?
- mstefff 18y agoWhere's the democracy? "However, there have been times when electors have voted contrary to the people's decision, and there is no federal law or Constitutional provision against it."
- qhoxie 18y agoI understand that, but it does not answer my question.
- mstefff 18y agoI don't remember saying that not voting improves it. I also don't recall saying that voting improves it either.
- qhoxie 18y agoSo if helping the situation is not your reason, what is?
- petercooper 18y agoPerhaps mstefff is a democrat (small d - an advocate of democracy) and doesn't believe in voting within an electoral framework that isn't truly democratic.
- guitsaru 18y agoThe United States is not, nor has it ever been, a democracy; it is a republic. You are electing the electors who then cast their vote for the president. When the elector votes contrary to the popular vote, it's the same idea as a president who doesn't do what he promises during his campaign.
- r7000 18y agoA republic can be a democracy. They are not opposites nor are they synonyms.
- astrec 18y agoAn equally little known fact is that at least 24 states have legislation to deal with faithless electors. Your fears are almost entirely unfounded.