Sure, certain subsections came out in greater numbers (blacks) while others did not come out as strong (evangelicals). But this post doesn’t talk about subsections within the electorate, rather the electorate as a whole.

And I couldn’t disagree more about the National Popular Vote. The National Popular Vote is in direct opposition to the founding principles of the United States; namely that instead of being areas or regions within a national government, the national government is created by and for the varied smaller states within it. This country’s founding documents support state strength – it’s written into the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.

Also, the idea that candidates would “aim their campaigns across the country, involving every citizen,” is disproven by a simple look at the numbers. Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma, Alaska, Hawaii, etc. would receive almost no campaign stops because they don’t have a great deal of votes. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, and some parts of Texas would receive the bulk of the campaign visits (and the campaign advertising dollars).

The National Popular Vote is wrong for America and wrong for everyone not living in a major metropolitan area.

The best Electoral College reform is to take on the current system used in Maine and Nebraska. As the Constitution states, Electors are assigned to each state in a number equal to the total number of Senators and Representatives in the state. The Maine and Nebraska system logically assigns two of their electoral votes (representing the states’ senators) to the winner of the popular vote. Each additional electoral vote is assigned according to who wins Congressional districts.

This is the absolute best path forward if we are to move forward with a reform that celebrates both equality AND stays within the founding documents and spirit of the United States.

What would get more voters out everywhere is when states adopt the rule that their electoral votes will all be cast in favor of the winner of the most votes nation-wide. See
http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/explanation.php

Not only will this eliminate injustices like Bush winning when Gore got more votes, but election campaigns will not focus all their efforts and ads on “battleground” states, but aim their campaigns across the country, involving every citizen.

tOM