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John,
Our democracy is the cornerstone of our nation, a symbol of our commitment to the principles of freedom, equality, and justice. Yet, in the face of these lofty ideals, there lies a glaring discrepancy in the very heart of our political process -- the election of our President.
Today, we stand at a pivotal crossroads and have an opportunity to shape our democracy in a way that truly reflects the will of the people.
The current system, the Electoral College, was conceived at a time when communication was slow and the population was less distributed. Today, it distorts the democratic process by allowing a candidate to win the Presidency despite losing the national popular vote. In the United States, this system gives more weight to swing states, leaving 80% of Americans with less valuable votes.
In fact, the 2020 election came down to just over 40,000 votes in three swing states, while the 2016 election had a margin of fewer than 80,000 votes across three states. However, in both cases, the national popular vote was not even close. In the past five elections, popular vote winners won by an average of 5 million votes.
It's time to rethink this process and embrace a system that ensures the candidate with the most votes wins, unequivocally. Watch this video from Robert Reich at Inequality Media and then support the campaign to elect the President by national popular vote.
Electing the President by national popular vote is about the principle of equality, a bedrock of our democracy. Under our current system, the value of a vote can fluctuate wildly based on geography. Some votes carry more weight than others simply because of the state in which they are cast. Is this equality?
The national popular vote guarantees that every vote -- whether it's cast in New York City or a rural town in Idaho -- carries the same weight. Every vote counts equally, fulfilling the promise of one person, one vote.
Adopting a national popular vote would encourage higher voter turnout since many voters in "safe" states may feel their vote doesn't matter because the result in their state is a foregone conclusion. But if every vote directly contributed to the national outcome, there would be a stronger incentive for all to participate, reinforcing the democratic process.
On top of that the national popular vote would push candidates to campaign nationwide, not just in a handful of swing states. This would lead to a more inclusive political discourse, giving voice to diverse perspectives and issues across the country, not just those that are of strategic electoral value.
The national popular vote is not just a shift in the method of electing our President; it's a commitment to the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded. It's a pledge to equality, to one person, one vote, and to a political system that truly reflects the will of the people.
Let's shape our democracy for a brighter, more equitable future. Support the campaign to elect the President by national popular vote and help make this vision a reality.
Together, let's strive for a democracy that truly represents the people, where every vote counts, and the will of the majority prevails.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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