Does my vote count...?

Question

When I asked other people "Are you going to vote" they have actually said "Why bother, my vote doesn't count".

Why would someone say that?

Answer 1

I can see why someone would think his vote doesn't matter. If you're a Republican in a state like Minnesota that's gone Democrat for decades, if really doesn't matter if you vote because you know that the state will go Democrat with or without your vote (or vice versa for a Democrat in a Republican state like Texas).

Answer 2

The person may be referring to the electoral college. From the wiki link below:



"Rather than directly voting for the President and Vice President, United States citizens cast votes for electors. Electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be President, but in practice pledge to vote for specific candidates and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candidates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors."



If you read that and the remainder of the wiki topic, you can see where a person finds that their vote may not count. Elections are not based on popular vote so a single vote may not make a difference. For my state, it traditionally goes for the democratic candidate. A republican voter would find it easy to say their vote won't count. The opposite occurs in states that are traditionally republican.

Answer 3

Everyones vote counts.

Answer 4

it does count but remember your not voting directly for the president...your voting for your state to pick who they want to win...A president can have a higher vote by the people but still lose the election because it goes by electoral votes, not popular votes

Answer 5

Exactly.



If everyone had that attitude, no one would go out and vote at all. That's why it's important that we, as a nation, join together and vote.