Thursday, October 20, 2016

Carbon County votes matter

I’m guessing that Donald Trump will win Carbon County.  The county fits the demographic of Trump supporters–older, whiter, not many college grads.  Although the support for Clinton is climbing rapidly, I’m still predicting a Trump win.

Nonetheless, the Clinton campaign is working hard to turn out Clinton voters in Carbon.  Why?  Because the race is a state-wide race.  Every Clinton vote the campaign nets in Carbon County is added to the statewide total.

At the same time Clinton is not campaigning much in Massachusetts or Alabama.  Why not?  As of today, she will win Massachusetts and lose Alabama.  It doesn’t matter if she increases her vote total in Massachusetts or in Alabama because the electoral college operates on a state-by-state basis.  

This means candidates only campaign in the “battleground states” like Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Florida.  Suppose, however, we elected presidents by popular vote.  If Clinton received more votes in Alabama or Massachusetts, those votes would be added to the national total.  

Every vote in every state would count.  Elections would become truly nationwide.  No voter would feel left out.


Tomorrow:  Some problems with a nationwide presidential vote.

1 comment:

  1. Everything you say about Carbon voters is true. Years ago when people were coal miners, railroad workers and steel workers they were strong Demos. Demos always looked out for these workers. Not so much anymore. Now with the loss of these jobs they are quick to fall for the words of that snack oil salesman. If by some chance he wins and all those things he says will happen and do not happen we will then have resurgent of Demos taking control and have to fix the blunders of the Reps. Just like Obama had to do.

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