Post a response to this discussion thread
Try not to elect a President while I'm gone.
In the meantime, here's a great article directly related to the thread I started below about the electoral college:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/electo ralvotes001102.html
Main highlight:
Robert Erikson and Karl Sigman have crunched poll numbers and considered where Bush and Gore are most likely to win. They have determined Bush needs a 2 percentage point margin of victory with America’s voters to have an even shot at winning the electoral tally. If Bush’s edge with voters is 1 percentage point, Gore has a 90 percent chance of an electoral victory, according to their study.
“Bush has big leads in several states, but they account for a more modest number of electoral votes,” says Erikson, a political science professor. “By contrast, Gore has smaller leads in states that yield a greater number of electoral votes. With a close popular vote, the electoral edge goes to Gore.”
***Turmoil Possible***
If that happens, it could produce political fireworks, observers say.
“There would be an outcry and, yes, there would be pressure and, yes, there would be demands that we reform the system,” says Curtis Gans of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate.
Most electors are directed to follow the will of the majority of their state’s voters. But in about half the states, electors’ votes are not bound by law. Political watchers say that could mean a whole new campaign, long after the polls have closed.
“There would be a lot of jockeying among the Electoral College for them to switch their votes,” said Craig Crawford of the Hotline political digest. “Can you imagine the wheeling and dealing?”
Post a response to this discussion thread