US Election, a question.

[raf_gti]

With the US Election almost upon us I've been reading a lot of the Electoral College. I'm I correct in thinking that an individual doesn't vote directly for a candidate but for an 'Elector' who will then make the official vote? For the most democratic country in the world it seems a bit of a strange way of doing it don't you think? In the fact the whole electrion seems rather strange but that is a whole different thread!

[kambites]

It's not utterly dissimilar to the way we elect our prime minister. Everyone votes for an MP, the MPs effectively vote for a PM. The difference in the US is that different states have different number of votes whereas here, each constituency elects a single MP with a single vote.

Both systems are pretty ste really.

In neither system do you need to get the largest share of the popular vote in order to win.


ETA: US states vary in how they actually vote in the electoral college. Some states will give all their allocated votes to whoever wins the popular vote in that state, others will split their electoral college votes to reflect the balance of the popular vote.

Edited by kambites on Monday 3rd November 12:20

[SkinnyBoy]

It works out something like this:

[Marf]

SkinnyBoy said:

It works out something like this:

[Morpeth]

Marf said:

SkinnyBoy said:

It works out something like this:

[130R]

Interesting map. One day I hope to visit all 57 States like Barack Obama.

[skeggysteve]

I understand the electoral college thing, but what I don't know is which side is labour.

It's not really important because I've been wondering for years Just thought I ask.

Not that it matters because we are ruled by the EU now not the USA

[RDE]

Four more years for Bartlett I say.

[G'kar]

RDE said:

Four more years for Bartlett I say.

You feckless thug....You get Hoynes.

[trooperiziz]

skeggysteve said:

I understand the electoral college thing, but what I don't know is which side is labour.

There is no "Labour", just "Conservative" and "More Conservative"

[Mannginger]

When does the candidate elected become the president or is it as soon as the result is declared?

At what point does the incumbent president have to retire?

[jazzybee]

Mannginger said:

When does the candidate elected become the president or is it as soon as the result is declared?

At what point does the incumbent president have to retire?

IIRC they become President Elect immediately as the other candidate concedes. They become President at the inauguration ceremony on 20th January 2009.

[Mannginger]

Cheers. (I thought January came into it somewhere!)

[just me]

It does. Right after December. Happens every year!

[skeggysteve]

trooperiziz said:

skeggysteve said:

I understand the electoral college thing, but what I don't know is which side is labour.

There is no "Labour", just "Conservative" and "More Conservative"

Good point

So who is the cons and who is the more cons?

[Simpo Two]

skeggysteve said:

trooperiziz said:

skeggysteve said:

I understand the electoral college thing, but what I don't know is which side is labour.

There is no "Labour", just "Conservative" and "More Conservative"

Good point

So who is the cons and who is the more cons?

Once I'd have agreed with you, but now I'd say the Democrats (Obama) are like New Labour (great oratory so they get voted in, then crank up taxes and piss them up the wall) and the Republicans are right of our Conservative party (which isn't saying much) - ie traditional American.

'Hey, that Obama guy says he's going to Change things.'

'Great, I don't think much of what we've got. What's he going to change?'

'Dunno.'

'What's he going to replace it with?'

'He didn't say, he just said he was going to Change stuff.'

'OK, I'll vote for him then...'



I hope everyone here who hates Bush and therefore thinks Americans are 'stupid' will re-categorise them as 'intelligent' when they vote in the media darling.

[Maxwedge]

The Electoral College was developed because in the late 1700's a show of hands was pretty hard to do...SOOOOOOOOO what they do is each state's votes are counted and the college representative votes in accord to what the popular vote for his/her state...example say Obama wins Indiana, that is 7 electoral votes, Indiana is an all or nothing state so the college places ALL its votes from Indiana for Obama even if Obama only gets 49% of the popular vote, he gets all the votes as far as Americans/Conservatives being Part of "Dumbfkistan"...things to consider outside Iraq, that make people vote for the conservatives...Illegal Immigration, Abortion, Gun control, Crazy government spending and growth, Taxes....
as far as Pres Bush, well lets just say he did not do anything significant with regards to those issues. Not much of a conservative.

[Muntu]

130R said:

Interesting map. One day I hope to visit all 57 States like Barack Obama.

I would like to too, but I think it might be above my pay grade.

[Simpo Two]

Muntu said:

I would like to too, but I think it might be above my pay grade.

I'm terribly sorry, I read that as 'gay pride'!!!

[Muntu]

Simpo Two said:

Muntu said:

I would like to too, but I think it might be above my pay grade.

I'm terribly sorry, I read that as 'gay pride'!!!

Yes, I just had a bit of momentary dyslexia and read it that way too

No, I'm not a poofter