Election Day Thread - Page 3

amIblue? · #31 11-06-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

It seems like every election since I could vote there has been an EC fiasco.

Really? Exaggerate much? I've only been alive for one election in which it was an issue, much less eligible to vote in an election in which it was a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

FWIW, since the popular vote became the norm for how states selected presidential electors (1832 for all states except South Carolina), there have only been three instances where the winner of the electoral college did not also win the popular vote -- 1876, 1888 and 2000.

Psi U MC Vito · #32 11-06-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

NPVIC? Is this something to change the Electoral College? I'm all about getting rid of the EC and going to popular vote. It seems like every election since I could vote there has been an EC fiasco. I'm so over it!

It will retain the EC, but it would require the states that are members of the agreement to have their electors vote for the national popular winner. I think the EC needs to go, but I don't think that the NPVIC is the solution.

DeltaBetaBaby · #33 11-06-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

It will retain the EC, but it would require the states that are members of the agreement to have their electors vote for the national popular winner. I think the EC needs to go, but I don't think that the NPVIC is the solution.

Once the NPVIC is in force, the popular vote winner would automatically win the electoral vote. Yes, it would be dumb to still have the electoral college at that point, but it would have the same effect.

PhoenixAzul · #34 11-06-2012, 08:16 PM

so nice to be out of the US today...no political commercials, and very little coverage just now (it's midnight here).

Downside: no concept of how things are going.

moe.ron · #35 11-06-2012, 08:25 PM

I'm going to make a bold prediction:
Obama wins Vermont and Romney wins Alabama.

DeltaBetaBaby · #36 11-06-2012, 08:40 PM

I love it when they call states with 0% counted. Also, CNN doesn't even list Pennsylvania as a battleground. Hahaha, good strategy, Romney.

Psi U MC Vito · #37 11-06-2012, 08:45 PM

I find it funny that they are calling states in the South for Romney even though they only have 1% of the votes in and Obama is way ahead.

AGDee · #38 11-06-2012, 08:58 PM

They're basing it on exit polls.

DeltaBetaBaby · #39 11-06-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

I find it funny that they are calling states in the South for Romney even though they only have 1% of the votes in and Obama is way ahead.

Eh, he can have 'em. I want Obama to take FL, and then I can go to bed early.

ETA: The networks have called Illinois, too.

Tulip86 · #40 11-06-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

so nice to be out of the US today...no political commercials, and very little coverage just now (it's midnight here).

Downside: no concept of how things are going.

It's on BBC1. Every major European outlet is broadcasting nothing but US elections.

MysticCat · #41 11-06-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Once the NPVIC is in force, the popular vote winner would automatically win the electoral vote. Yes, it would be dumb to still have the electoral college at that point, but it would have the same effect.

I know it's not as popular a view these days, but I think the EC serves a very valid purpose. It recognizes that we are a federal republic of states and that the president is president of that federal republic, not of a unitary country. Our system of government is set up to reflect both that that the populace as a whole and the states should have a say. In Congress, the House represents the popular vote/will and the Senate represents the states. The EC, as it has developed, represents the states by having the states' electors elect the president, but having the popular vote within each state determine the state's electors. It's a balance of interests, giving both the populace and the states a voice in the choice of the president.

While I don't get excited about the NPVIC, I wouldn't necessarily object to it because it would (theoretically at least) preserve the balance I describe in that the participating states would voluntarily be choosing to designate their electors based on the national popular vote.

AOII Angel · #42 11-06-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Typically, I don't spend a lot of time trying to parse them on my own, and instead check out what the LWV has to say. They are non-partisan, and spend a lot of time studying these issues.

I do the same.

MysticCat · #43 11-06-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think we may know before the polls close on the West Coast/Hawaii and Alaska. If Romney loses Ohio, which seems pretty likely at this point, and if he loses Virginia and Florida, both of which seem more likely than not at this point (though I think Florida is a much closer call), it's over.

Well, I may have been overly optimistic about the timing, since even though the polls have closed in Virginia, there are still lots of people in line. They're saying they may not be through with voting until 11:00, and they've suspended count reports until everyone has voted.

PeppyGPhiB · #44 11-06-2012, 09:44 PM

I love vote-by-mail...even more after seeing some of the chaos erupting today. People trying to vote by email, lines so long that people have to take a day off work, polling places without power (and only electronic voting machines), voting machines with "glitches." Washington and Oregon: I love you!

ASTalumna06 · #45 11-06-2012, 09:59 PM

I went to vote at 6:30 tonight and had no line at all. Walked right up to the table, signed my name, and walked into the booth. Everything is electronic, which makes things so easy. Press buttons, your choices are marked with a lit up X, press 'Cast Vote.' The end. I was in and out in 5 mnutes.