Something Interesting About Our Election

Two lesser known things that got my attention. First, our electoral college - which makes our voting process so darn interesting... and why Bush won with less votes! - is being challenged by Colorado. They are considering splitting its 9 electoral votes according to its own popular vote. So if one got 44% of the Colorado popular vote, he gets 4 electoral votes and the other 5, where now the latter will get all 9.

I consider this a good thing if and only if this process goes nationwide. Otherwise Colorado will become a glaring exception! 1) It makes Colorado overall weaker and 2) it helps the Democrats. If this was in place in 2000, Gore will be president with a margin of one single electoral vote! Florida wouldn't have mattered. Also, if this was in place in mostly Democrat states like California or my state of Illinois (Chicago), if will help the Republicans.

I don't want to get rid of the electoral college completely (i.e. use only the popular vote), since it gives all states a chance to participate instead of just the most populated ones. Otherwise rural, low populated states wouldn't be considered. Also our large nation has a variety of local cultures and concerns. But at least this makes the electoral votes more in proportion to the popular vote. Going to make the vote tallying harder though!

The second thing is quite sad, but unsurprising. A poll found people are more interested in fall leaves changing than our presidential election, 54 to 48 percent.