How the US election works - BBC News

The president of the United States isn’t directly elected by American voters but by members of what's known as the electoral college. Here’s how the system works.
Motion graphics by Jacqueline Galvin. Produced by Jake Horton and Sarah Glatte.
Please subscribe HERE bit.ly/1rbfUog

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” ― Mark Twain

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

Question Everything - Thought Provoking Ideas “Mark Twain also once wrote “there once was a black man called ni¥¥€r Jim” so I don’t know if everything he said was 100% cool.” ~Luis CK.

[@kyounghohan5211]

I agree with you.

[@goodluck1070]

great!

[@richardmaclean7581]

Republicans are traitors and terrorists

[@RexFeral55]

@@aaronburratwood.6957 Just as a child matures and learns what is right and what is acceptable, so too civilization matures. Show disdain for stupidity, not ignorance. The ignorant can be enlightened, but stupidity goes right to the bone.

[@VRALLSTARS17]

Am I the only one that thinks this doesn’t make any sense

[@PuudingMusic]

Ur not

[@louislemsic]

same

[@Lara-fg9vq]

Yeah... It's honestly confusing and maybe unfair

[@apocalypticbean]

that you don't understand how it works or it doesn't make sense why it is the way it is?

[@VRALLSTARS17]

@@apocalypticbean doesn’t make any sense why it is what it is

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“The US election is like strapping someone on an electric chair and giving them a choice between AC or DC.”

[@James-oo1yq]

You do know one is 100x more likely to kill you? But I get your point

[@potatomatop9326]

Why not choose both AC/DC and sing Highway to Hell?

[@yinlongliu2968]

MAGA

[@kamomogershom1749]

Hahahahaha

[@randomcallum]

il take the air conditioner !

[@Chuanese]

"How the united state election works?" Um, it doesnt.

[@Chuanese]

@@WildwoodCastle pretty much a good example, china has voting and ballet as well. It gives the illusion of choice, if you are in an red state or blue state you vote is literally not important enough for the government to fight for your state.

[@tonywater9865]

WildwoodCastle As a Chinese, it’s necessary to steal all US technology.😄 We all hope your tech like an apple we can make everywhere. 😄 In Chinese, we said 白菜化 就像买白菜一样唾手可得 Poor America 😄

[@sour-vampire]

The OG 13 didn't want to be over ruled by a few states with most of the population. Small states wanted every state to be equal,Big states wanted the population to count. Electoral college is similar to our house of representatives.

[@jaimerios3185]

Um, it has worked ever since it was implemented with little to no violence as a consequence which can't be said for most of the world. It's not perfect but it does work.

[@pablo9364]

Chuan Liang typical BBC. Lecturing and informing us about the facts in the most most fake way possible. Patronising the people with their fake news. They shame Britain in the same way CNN shame the United States

[@Ridiculizer]

An illusion of choice for the peasantry. That's how it works.

[@zzdemonic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHeqmYtmnbGsbKc

[@Drakey_Fenix]

@Richard R He is funny but he also doesn't feel like he has what it takes to be a president. He is a good business man and that's about it.

[@robertskolimowski7049]

@@Drakey_Fenix He hasn't actually proved to be a very successful businessman either, given all those bankruptcies, and all the wealth that he was born into.

[@0IIIIII]

The choices have never been more different.

[@anthonyliang300]

you are absolutely right!

[@0IIIIII]

Lots of Americans need to watch this too.

[@ChihuahuaChappie]

Nah AGT is on!

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

all voting is fixed everybody in the White House works together it's a big show for the audience always has been always will who's going to win they already know it before the voting voting is a sucker's game they all laugh at people who vote because they don't count people always looking for a savior to make the world better it starts within covid-19 hyped up 80% none of them ever keep promises that they make politics the game of deception and human trickery and manipulation

[@SpaceMonkeyBoi]

@@seanfitzpatrick4730 put some punctuation in there, I feel like I'm reading speed rap lyrics.

[@ChihuahuaChappie]

@@seanfitzpatrick4730 so who will be the " weiner "

[@fluffy_cheese7478]

@@seanfitzpatrick4730 yep sounds about right :)

[@etg9080]

Weird election system America should amend a new a law. The public's vote should have value.

[@mirzamuhtasimfaiyaz4086]

Same bro

[@loveeaother3180]

No Our country is a democratic REPUBLIC! If the presidential election were decided on popular vote then only a few states would decide and most of the other states would not be represented A lot of demographics define a county's politics So it would not be fair Then a candidate would only campaign in those areas All of America is suppose have a say

[@tonisantos795]

@@loveeaother3180 What?? That's exactly what's happening with this ongoing stupid system.

[@adrian225]

@@loveeaother3180 uhm, not like its always the same 4-5 states having to do the "final decision" about who becomes president(except, its actually like that, always the same states pick the president)

[@Saad-vx9ph]

​​@@adrian225so? Even in Popular vote it will always come down to a few areas🤦‍♂️

[@muhammadtawhidulislam]

Plot twist: It actually doesn't work at all.

[@fluffy_cheese7478]

Yep

[@el_pildorador348elf9]

Ñ

[@loganm2766]

The evidence now exists to overturn the election back to Trump🗳🔁

[@MuslimsAreEvil22]

Said by someone who probably lives in a shithole Islamic dictatorship.

[@jassi7491]

This is not a democracy, every vote should be equal and important. What kind of democracy is this?

[@gearboxmerc1291]

You're right, the US is technically a "Representative Democracy." People are voted on to make decisions for everyone else. It allows for the people inside the system to determine how that system essentially functions. The biggest problem, as this election shows, is that the general voting population is highly uneducated in regards to economics and political policy. So, pretty much the election comes down to "who's the better bullshit artist."

[@somebody1828]

lol, he believes in democracy >_>

[@kristenkim5617]

each vote does count it's just by state...

[@nawedshaikh4333]

Jaskaran, the same is in India more or less. We chose MP in very Lok sabha seat and it doesn't matters by what margin he won. Also in 2014 BJP only got 31% vote share although they held conclusive majority in parliament

[@MrAshishras]

don't teach americans democracy.they are the most free country in the world.

[@ChandroBigbig]

I always wonder how US election works. After watching this, I'm still confused. 😂✌🏽

[@shesaballer35]

I’m from the US and believe me it makes no sense to anyone else who isn’t from here and it’s still a stupid system to me

[@ealing456]

And I thought the British system was severely messed up with first past the post!

[@el_pildorador348elf9]

Ñ

[@loganm2766]

The evidence now exists to overturn the election back to Trump.🗳🔁

[@el_pildorador348elf9]

@@loganm2766 Ñ

[@benjoyceben8896]

Success is about focusing Your energy on what creates results and using what you already know

[@jamesjoshjames5284]

It's not ignorance but unprofessional broker in the market

[@jamesjoshjames5284]

Investing in crypto currency now is the best thing to do especially with the current rise in the market

[@jamesjoshjames5284]

So investing in it wouldn’t be a Bad idea

[@arlindhoxhahoxha7745]

I totally agree with you, the stock market is the most profitable venture I ever invested in, I reached my goal of $500k yearly trade earnings. Setting realistic goals is an essential part of trading

[@harrytucker8555]

please I have been seeing a lot of posts this expert Mr Aitor Lorenzo from my colleagues at work. How can I easily reach him

[@doobiescoo]

Just sounds like monarchy with extra steps.

[@el_pildorador348elf9]

Ñ

[@samuelhawes6735]

Don't forget whoever pays the most wins... That part is quite important.

[@0IIIIII]

Paying for advertisement. Let’s not pretend it’s something nefarious

[@samuelhawes6735]

@@0IIIIII It is when it's bankrolled by oil companies or the N.R.A or Big Pharmaceutical companies or Wall Street corporations or The Military Industrial Complex or the for profit prison system.

[@0IIIIII]

Sam Hawes Sure but it’s not as if they’re buying officials or bribing anyone. They’re paying for advertisement space, or donating to campaigns who then pay for advertising. The real problem is dumb people who swallow political ads as truth. Cough cough right wingers

[@samuelhawes6735]

@@0IIIIII In a way it is buying officials. As those who pledge their support for these companies will receive so much more campaign finance than those who actually threaten to do something about them hence why Biden got the nomination over Sanders, In the U.K we atleast have a limit on campaign finances. It's true tho that a lot of the American public are painfully unaware how their own political system works. It's all about who says America is great the most who wins usually.

[@0IIIIII]

Sam Hawes Dude, Biden got the nomination because he won the Primary against Sanders. Had little to do with lobbying. Lobbying also is not illegal or corrupt. Nobody gets rich from taking lobbyist dollars. It all goes to campaigning.

[@Ampwich]

This makes no sense. Goes over my head a little bit too. Why not just...whoever gets the most votes in general wins?

[@iamwhoiam8486]

it is an ancient thing meant at kicking slavery and the civil war down the road. The south slave states had a much smaller population than Maryland and northwards on up through New England.

[@devadattaabhyankar9808]

@@thatguy8869 XXCWT

[@jasonwillows5239]

It's so the votes of every state counts, it'd be extremely unfair to the small states with barely any population, especially when slavery was still around and the Republicans occupied an even number of states as the Democrats, but had fewer people. This system helped abolish slavery since the Republican states still had a say in who the president was.

[@LSDrumline08]

Because then only states like California and New York would determine the outcome of the election. It's as fair representation as we can get for the moment. Is it perfect, no...but a popularity vote won't produce better results.

[@Ampwich]

@@LSDrumline08 But why not count the individual votes all around the nation? Why this weird states counting as one big vote or whatever thing? I'm so confused

[@purrnyan8108]

Such irony to say that "it's to prevent unsuitable candidates to be elected." Given time, any systems can be broken and changes are needed as a result. The system in the UK is just as antiquated and awful though.

[@0IIIIII]

The US thought that if the voting public was naive enough to elect a strong man, then the Electors would disregard their votes and vote for another, better candidate. However nowadays the Electors never go against the will of the people, and in some states they are bound by law to vote according the voters. The position is now antiquated

[@purrnyan8108]

@@0IIIIII Thanks for clarifying! The so-called "electors" are basically just of a relic of a by-gone era.

[@SB-uo9to]

WildwoodCastle House of Lords is basically powerless, it’s nothing like the senate. Be a waste of time to elect them

[@samuelhawes6735]

Surely an 'unsuitable candidate' is a subjective view aswell. Who qualifies as an unsuitable candidate?

[@purrnyan8108]

@@WildwoodCastle How is it working? The solid blue and red states are not being targeted (no dialogues opened for people in those states). The swing states are getting all the attention and determines for the rest who gets voted in. They managed to voted in 2 Republican presidents in recent years who are woefully inadequate in being the president of the most powerful democratic country in the world (and getting progressively worse). The electors, as explained, don't have any of the function/power of their original creator's intent. Not to mention gerrymandering, government shutdowns and filibuster, among many other systemic problems.

[@d.l.4411]

I’m American and i’m confused

[@irishsantos6068]

Im from UK, just wondering, what is the point of getting people to get out and vote if it is only decided by 538 people representing all the state. Anyway, best of luck U.S. I hope ur E.C. choose ur president wisely.

[@pradeepkumarvo]

I'm from India

[@nicolasquach7105]

You’re voting for who your state will vote for. The 538 people have to vote for whoever their state votes for.

[@lisaosborne8057]

@sketchy it's not a law but most of them have agreed to go with whatever the state chose. For those that don't understand the easy way to explain it is so that states like California and New York who have the largest population but mostly in a couple cities don't get to pick for the rest of the 48 states. You can get less populated states (like mine Kentucky) to vote and together with the other smaller states add up to equal the two big juggernauts. Some of those states (the 'swing states') don't always vote the same way. (For example California and New York always go Democrat) so the swing states can go either way. That's why they focus on them. It worked for years until gore and bush in 2000

[@utilizator500]

@@lisaosborne8057 so if it's not a law there is nothing stopping them from voting whatever they want.

[@lisaosborne8057]

@@utilizator500 i think i read that 30 of the 50 states have signed on to where they agree with the popular vote if their state. To the best of my knowledge and memory no electoral college has ever gone against the popular vote in their state. Now there is a state Nebraska i believe where they divide the vote up but i don't know how

[@Rheanala]

Who’s here nov 3 2020

[@floatytrouty]

Me in November 4th

[@cardenfoy]

The number of electors is determined by the number of house reps, which is not fixed, plus senators, which is based on the number of states, meaning the smaller the state the more their votes count against larger states.

[@maxqazwsxedc1050]

So like, if it's called democracy and you get more votes you win, right?

[@dylan8670]

It goes back to how the United States are exactly that, a group of states who decided to band together. To this day the states have a lot of power. Murder is not a federal crime in the US. It and other capital crimes are state crimes. The state where the murder occurred tries and convicts them. The states choose the President, not the total popular vote, because of the strong individual identities the states have always had. If you don’t like how one state is making laws, or taxing you, you can go live in another state. Thats the difference between the US and something like the UK which was always a kingdom. The United States is a fundamentally a union of strong individual states.

[@shesaballer35]

You would think. Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 3 million votes in 2016 but it didn’t matter because of the EC

[@Henry3Studios]

Without the electoral college, big states like California and New York would end up deciding the election, so the Democrats would just win every time.

[@shesaballer35]

@@Henry3Studios yeah but like they also have the most people so inherently that would make the most sense...land doesn’t vote people do

[@coinbowl]

@@shesaballer35 Good point. Land doesn't vote.

[@peregrineslim4446]

American democracy is about as healthy a a man on life support, and then along came Trump to pull out the plug.

[@DarthCoco]

Yep

[@spartanx9293]

@Richard R in actuality jfk was medicocre had he lived through his term he likely would have been remembered like Obama not great not terrible

[@spartanx9293]

A were not a democracy were a republic the founders were adamant that democracy was little more than mob rule B trump has changed nothing about our voting system how did he "pull the plug" obama and bush were equally as bad as trump

[@taylortrash]

But who are the electoral voters? Why do we not have access to their names?

[@daveray5655]

The reason they don't announce the names ahead of time is because the founders were worried about corruption.

[@gabrielabdul8372]

@@daveray5655 lol those founders lived 200 years ago, and now we live in a more modern world.

[@daveray5655]

@@gabrielabdul8372 wheels were invented thousands of years ago so let's stop using that as well. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I'm glad we have at least something to prevent corruption.

[@gabrielabdul8372]

@@daveray5655 you are talking of different topic that doesn't make sense. You can't compare.

[@daveray5655]

@@gabrielabdul8372 I'm trying to point out that because something is old doesn't automatically mean it's bad. If that wasn't made clear to you then I'm not sure else I can do to make things more clear.

[@Dylan-bh6mr]

anyone watching on the actual election day lmfao

[@joefriday8607]

The most ABSURD system, not democratic at all.

[@zooofsocks1924]

ok

[@Dat-Doomba]

ok

[@telepathicfish1489]

I see no possibility of this system ever being abused.

[@malink2658]

This is sarcasm, yes?

[@duckmcmad2843]

The US voters: How about we directly vote for President? US Government: No no no, we have to make it complicated and inefficient somehow

[@kevinboros7427]

This used to be a good system back when it was created. Now it's rather complicated for no reason. But the first past the post system is a bad one in general.

[@VlogHub_Delhi]

docs.google.com/document/d/1h2GZcPNYw6yVAOvLhkxdOPrQ4B6tJ77OAA3C06ddf78/edit?usp=drivesdk

[@gabrielabdul8372]

Yeah Mafia system

[@thepopo592]

just like every other system in the u.s! :)

[@Chuanese]

Wait, so when they say every vote count. It really doesn't?

[@0IIIIII]

Every vote does count because they need votes to win the states. Even safe states that reliably vote Democrat or Republican can flip if enough people vote or choose not to vote. This is what happened in 2016 when lots of the uneducated white Americans voted for Trump, in states that were considered Democratic leaning.

[@trevinbeattie4888]

The votes count, but some people’s votes count more than others - and it’s NOT the people in smaller states, as some proponents keep claiming. It’s the people who live in a few swing states whose votes count the most.

[@0IIIIII]

Trevin Beattie The small states have a larger proportion of electors than larger states. It’s a tyranny of the poor, rural, uneducated, minority.

[@Chuanese]

I really hate how people vote party lines through and through. Honestly, this way government gets away with murder, literally.

[@0IIIIII]

Chuan Liang Just vote Democrat

[@sevrice6509]

i am watching this for school what the hell

[@perkins1439]

It don't

[@anthonyliang300]

red satan vs blue devil in their kleptocorporatocracy's funded altar where people are sacrificed.

[@HoneyBadgerz]

Emperor Xi nods in agreement!!

[@harithrashid5314]

I smell corruption

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

all voting is fixed everybody in the White House works together it's a big show for the audience always has been always will who's going to win they already know it before the voting voting is a sucker's game they all laugh at people who vote because they don't count people always looking for a savior to make the world better it starts within covid-19 hyped up 80% none of them ever keep promises that they make politics the game of deception and human trickery and manipulation

[@Wydad_forza]

It s reeking corruption

[@fluffy_cheese7478]

@@seanfitzpatrick4730 hehe you put this in another reply section

[@niteshsarkar]

Yeah, and me 9/11

[@misterb3037]

So is it possible for an election to be split 50/50 Also what is the least amount of states you need you win

[@trevinbeattie4888]

The 11 largest states have a total of 270 electoral votes, which is the minimum needed to win. Going the other way, due to the “winner-take-all” nature of these elections, a candidate can win with just 21.3% of the popular vote by winning the 21 smallest states … assuming 100% voter turnout. That doesn’t take into account first-past-the-post voting or lower voter turnouts; one can win with a much smaller percentage of the popular vote if there is a very low voter turnout in the states that are won and a high turnout in states that were lost. Finally, if neither candidate gets a majority - such as a 269/269 split or some votes going to a 3rd candidate - then the next president is decided by a vote of the House of Representatives.

[@misterb3037]

Trevin Beattie thanks that’s very interesting and helpful

[@Loykaz]

Trevin Beattie in that case how would that vote work?

[@DoFeedThePigeons]

Let the distraction take place! As there will be only one winner and that is the rich!

[@martinus4873]

Rich globalist bankers indeed

[@Rumeel12708]

Well then become part of rich!!!!!

[@sld69ytb]

Ceux qui regardent ça en AMC on se sait

[@gxb3600]

I'm more confused now than I was before I watched this

[@admiralfishman8845]

IT'S A TRAP!

[@ChihuahuaChappie]

" It's a Thirst Trap "

[@admiralfishman8845]

@@ChihuahuaChappie IT'S A TRAP!

[@Phono-fun]

It’s a very similar system for the prime minister.

[@Perehenaa]

Damn it man, you raise a good point.

[@bills2843]

The electoral college has to go. It is a two hundred year old system that doesn't make sense anymore. Your vote technically doesn't count if you are a Republican in California, or a Democrat in Alabama. This also another reason why the voter turnout in the Presidential election is usually low. Also, electors just don't make sense and some of them vote faithless for people that weren't even on the ballot. In 2016, Kasich (who was eliminated in the Republican primary) won an electoral vote, and so did Bernie Sanders. Ron Paul, who didn't even run in 2016 got an electoral vote and so did Colin Powell, Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. Sec. Powell has never run for President but he still got an electoral vote. The electoral college has to go.

[@ChihuahuaChappie]

This will be the Last Election with the Electoral system: as the Anarchy arriving from this failure will create change. Sadly too late as the irreversible damage will be done.

[@davidrobertsemail]

It’s a fairer system than what you want to replace it with. Do you disagree with ballot harvesting? There’s never been a BBC video on that. That’s undemocratic.

[@bills2843]

@Oscar Lee With all due respect but our elections work very differently than that of the United Kingdom. We elect the President and Congress separately, while you have a parliamentary system in which MPs are elected altogether and then the leader of the party with the highest number of MPs becomes Prime Minister.

[@bills2843]

@@davidrobertsemail Actually it's not. I respect your view but ballot harvesting can also rig the Electoral college. Plus, with the electoral college candidates ignore safe states and compete only in battleground states. That is unfair for the rest of the people because they don't get to meet with the candidates that will represent them. The campaigning process will also become very different and politicians won't ignore safe states.

[@lhs4797]

So there's no point voting

[@jacobscoffschild383]

It works not for the many but for the few like myself. 🙂

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

all voting is fixed everybody in the White House works together it's a big show for the audience always has been always will who's going to win they already know it before the voting voting is a sucker's game they all laugh at people who vote because they don't count people always looking for a savior to make the world better it starts within covid-19 hyped up 80% none of them ever keep promises that they make politics the game of deception and human trickery and manipulation

[@siddharthpundir724]

Explain me winner take all does it mean if suppose in California Democrat got 28 and Republican 27 so all 27 Republican has to resign and democrat from particular district get will get extra 28 district?

[@SB-uo9to]

Republicans saying gerrymandering doesn’t exist😂😂 it literally exists on a national level

[@III-ip8uc]

There’s so many evidence for their disgusting racial gerrymandering

[@SB-uo9to]

Derek Kent I’m sure both sides do, but the republicans have made a big song and dance about denying it recently even though they’ve been caught with their pants down in places like North Carolina

[@SB-uo9to]

Alligator god forbid immigration having an impact on the politics of a country founded on immigration

[@SB-uo9to]

Alligator the America you see today was built on the backs of slaves and poor immigrants, not the original colonial settlers. But once the immigrants stop being white Europeans, only then do you believe it’s a problem

[@SB-uo9to]

Alligator wrong my friend, America is founded for anyone who is American, whether they are of European , African, Native, Asian or Hispanic descent. Those descended from native Americans and slaves are not to be merely “respected”, they have as much claim to America as anyone else, if not more. A hardline approach to immigration is a complete u-turn on the thing that made America what it is today

[@jobafemi]

Should've added a bit on gerrymandering for a fuller picture of the US electoral system.

[@Perehenaa]

Gerrymandering doesn't apply for electoral votes, because the vote of each district is not considered. It's the whole state instead.

[@JP_HKY_777]

Thanks for this now I actually understand it a bit better. However I’m not big into politics but now at least I know the basics of how elections work.

[@kevinmorris7722]

They didn't explain anything about why it is what it is. This was a political ad in disguise.

[@wignermn9391]

It doesn’t

[@maajidmoha6378]

Mmmm and you call this democracy lol

[@ignignoktthemooninite3679]

Were not a democracy. Were a republic

[@nelldavila3261]

Just like the electoral Collage. Many Americans don’t know that we were never a democracy. We’re a republic. Read the national anthem.

[@ch44227]

I think a good compromise between keeping it and going popular vote would be to have every state do it like Nebraska. Not mentioned in this video but the number each state gets is based on their number of representation in Congress. Every state gets two Senators and the House of Representatives is based on population (adjusted every ten years), with every state getting at least one member even if their state's total population is smaller than the average Congressional district (Wyoming for example). So every state gets at least 3 votes in the Electoral College. The way Nebraska does it (and I think Maine does too) is they only give the two votes representing the Senate seats to winner of the state at large. For the votes representing their Congressional Districts, they give the vote based on who had the most votes in each of those districts. That way it would be way harder for someone to win the Electoral College without the popular vote, but at the same time Candidates can't ignore the smaller states. A popular vote would likely change Candidates focus to just trying to get high voter turnout in large states they already expected to do well in, than actually try to win undecided voters, or address the needs of people outside those states.

[@ch44227]

@@Swerev That is the way Nebraska and I think Maine does it. As the video covers the rest of the states give ALL of their votes to whoever gets the most in their state. Even if the winner only won by a small amount.

[@AbeNomiks]

No one can justify voting for Biden without mentioning Trump

[@cristianistrate8301]

true that, but an argument that is satisfying!

[@SB-uo9to]

Lesser of two evils, when you’ve got a candidate who isn’t great you’ve got to point out how bad the other one is

[@user-vh4yi8yy3g]

Well obviously, it’s a re-election we are voting on if we think trio did a good job and if we think Biden will be better.

[@owenhall5742]

Im voting for biden to sort out health care

[@AbeNomiks]

@@owenhall5742the only thing he gonna sort is his sleeping pills for the week

[@NosakhareAbrams]

My country Nigeria should adopt this style of indirect system.

[@thomazneuber2008]

I think they should allow the us people to vote DIRECTLY for president.

[@justinaskulakauskas2937]

Why? So that the most populated states would get to decide who's the president?

[@thomazneuber2008]

@@justinaskulakauskas2937 Better than trust the vote to someone that I barely know

[@lawtraf8008]

@@justinaskulakauskas2937 Yeah so that the majority of the population decide the winner, it's common sense. Why would the minority get to decide for the majority ?

[@armvieri99]

Thanks for the graphic explanation bbc

[@WanderwithSam]

People need to remember how big and diverse this country is. My views in NJ are way different than those in say California. We need the Electoral College to keep everything balanced. Unfortunately the Electoral College has made us a two party system which is terrible. Every once in a while we get a great candidate who's voice is barely heard.

[@yourface07]

I’ve seen a few videos explaining that ‘usually’ the electors will support the majority vote. So does that mean there are times when they won’t support the majority vote? On the surface, that doesn’t sound very democratic. What am I missing?

[@yourface07]

@Dixie Normus ahhh thanks for clarifying

[@hfredydl]

If Texas is a Presidential battleground state then I’m the Queen of England 👑

[@LS-bw7jt]

😂

[@theupsidedownworld99]

🤔✊ It's intriguing how electoral systems aim to prevent unsuitable candidates but are not foolproof. Over time, societal changes call for necessary adaptations to ensure fairness and representativeness. The UK's electoral system has faced criticisms of being outdated and flawed, prompting discussions on reform. Examining different systems globally helps us reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of each. Engaging in constructive dialogue about electoral reform can lead to improvements for democratic processes.

[@MasQalandar]

I watched it twice and i still ddnt understand 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

all voting is fixed everybody in the White House works together it's a big show for the audience always has been always will who's going to win they already know it before the voting voting is a sucker's game they all laugh at people who vote because they don't count people always looking for a savior to make the world better it starts within covid-19 hyped up 80% none of them ever keep promises that they make politics the game of deception and human trickery and manipulation

[@fluffy_cheese7478]

Same, I feel like voting is more complicated then it has to be xD

[@Saturn-jy7gm]

I will explain it to you the way I know. Basically, each state has a number of electors based on population. The popular vote in each state is what the electors vote for, with a total of 538 electors and 270 votes required to win. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that can vote for different candidates despite popular vote.

[@rangertocpt]

In Australia, there are representatives from all sides of government in the counting room to ensure a fair result. Why not the same in America?

[@an7games59]

Lol and Americans think they have democracy 😂😂😂😂

[@Benjamin.90]

It's a demoCRAZY now

[@arandomboi7611]

It’s a Republic

[@ebonielyon8851]

good, informative video

[@andrewwilliam363]

Very interesting one,hi how are you doing!

[@АлександрСталБерг]

Russian anecdote: Joe Biden arrived at the cemetery before the election. It's good that the caretaker saw it. He caught Joe and put him back in the grave 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@fearalice]

I think you're really stretching the definition of "works" applying it to the US election.

[@saeedbasabain4188]

No more Trump

[@TheFamousRleon]

Jase Brown lmao

[@TheFamousRleon]

Yes welcome to the party pal!

[@Perehenaa]

Sorry, dude, not your decision.

[@jasonwillows5239]

What an absolutely thought-provoking topic for discussion, thank you so much, sir, for all the research and time you put into your argument there, truly this comment will change the world, Saeed Basabain. /s

[@hockeymike333]

It Doesn't.

[@goryphotos]

4 more years

[@MEDUSAvsSHOE]

@david marjasonlol. Trade agreement... You all will be balls deep in WW3 after our civil war spills over the world.

[@TheFamousRleon]

No ❤️💙

[@TheFamousRleon]

david marjason not true, we’ll have to find out. No one cares about your opinions.

[@BP-1988]

How the US election works? As an American I can tell our friends in the UK that it doesn't. Our electoral college has gone way past its expiration date.

[@D71219ONE]

If you don’t like the USA’s electoral system, then move. My sister in-law is British, and she officially became a US citizen last year. She hated how things were ran there. She loves the US Constitution, and the way our leaders are elected, and she’s very happy. If you prefer another electoral system, and it would make you happy, you should go participate in it. And I promise I’m not trying to be rude. I honestly think we get to attached to land here, and trying to make our land what we want. Sometimes it’s better to just move to somewhere that fits our life.

[@vmoonlight4962]

Every election there has to be an explanation, this doesn’t make any sense, why can’t they just rely on popular votes and citizens votes in every state. Simple as that, that will be more fair and peaceful. I don’t understand this.

[@malink2658]

@Dixie Normus - What??? What does this mean??? Why doesn’t the person with the most votes become president? I am so confused

[@jeffreyyoung413]

_Good morning dear, I pray that the sweet peace of God be part of your day and that life shines through your deep sighs. May your life be flooded with light.

[@endercakmakci580]

It doesnt

[@theazrael4423]

This old system, existing now in modern times defeat the very purpose for which it was created.

[@HelenGPitts]

I stop work­ing a­­t m­­y previous job and now I make 85 dollars per/hr. Wondering How? I work online at home! My previous work was making me miserable ,so I chose to take my chance on something different… 2 years have passed since And I say it was the wisest decision i ever made! Check it out, what i do...>>>>>>> *grab26­.­c­o­m*

[@kolejnyhejeter_anotherhater]

It doesn't.

[@stoufer2000]

Is Russia and israel involved this time?

[@stoufer2000]

@Richard R they are going to need to work quickly. The Russian and Zionist media machines have full penetration of dumb sheep's minds..

[@pranjalsharma8960]

@Richard R Im sure China and Russia both want the idiot trump back in the white house so both these countries can carry forward their regional and international aims.

[@stoufer2000]

@Richard R I'd imagine Rupert hates most of the people he puts in power.

[@stoufer2000]

@Richard R lol, don't make it worse for me by listening to anti Semitic plagurism. Something is going on but I think it's just avarice and power. I'm sticking with blaming Israel and butt hurt Putin.

[@theidiot5496]

2:17 where is ford

[@aimancattani9768]

The concept of moral authority that this world finally needs!

[@TradeMarkSky]

Its outstanding to see so many people not knowing that the U.S. is not a democracy, but a democratic republic.

[@ARTDEVGRU247]

what's the difference between a democracy and a republic?

[@TradeMarkSky]

@@ARTDEVGRU247 electoral college

[@ARTDEVGRU247]

@@TradeMarkSky ?

[@pranjalsharma8960]

China and Russia rooting for trump

[@MarshallLore]

lmfao yeah im sure they want the guy that builds up the US economy and military to leave them even further behind

[@0IIIIII]

A Public Forum for Discussion Trump did not build up either. Remember the Russian Bounty Scandal, and how Trump did NOTHING to punish Russia for killing Americans? Or how Trump is responsible for the Coronavirus being as bad as it is, killing 200,000 and costing billions in relief?

[@martinus4873]

Don't think so. The Dems are the ones kissing China's feet not Trump . Andrew Cuomo even tried to say the virus was from Europe not china. Most of big money msm/corporations are against Trump because they want the bring the economy down, reset it to a global banking system and introduce communism , people on the left are cheering for their own demise.

[@MarshallLore]

@@0IIIIII That sounds cool but I prefer reality

[@0IIIIII]

A Public Forum for Discussion It was on the news. He still hasn’t done anything. And he even admitted on TV to downplaying the virus. His supporters which aren’t smart enough to trust experts take his word as truth and spread the virus

[@detectiverick9934]

Such a broken system

[@VlogHub_Delhi]

docs.google.com/document/d/1h2GZcPNYw6yVAOvLhkxdOPrQ4B6tJ77OAA3C06ddf78/edit?usp=drivesdk

- Let's be different and make something complicated alright? - I have an idea! Why dont we make each state have their own freedom to make their own laws which make people vote on different days and people vote and their vote counts for the state because the votes are of the state and so the votes cant count to the country and then each state counts the state's votes and when the votes are counted the amount of votes actually doesnt matter so everyone's votes are one vote for one candidate because the candidate got most votes from the state so the candidate got all the votes from the state and the other candidate votes dont actually matter and then if a candidate wins a state which is another way of saying they won the most votes in a state which is the same as saying they won all votes on the state because other candidates dont actually matter then what happens is that the candidate gets one point to win in the general country election but it's actually not one point actually they gain multiple points and actually the amount of points each state gives is different because each state has different number of votes which is the same number of people that vote in the state the and amount of people or votes of the state determines how many points the state gives which is different than the points from other states because states are different and they have different people and different votes and people so the points are different and then we count the points of each state which is a result of the people of that state which vote on the candidate that won the state because the candidate got most of the votes which means he got all of the votes because the other candidates dont matter and then after the points are counted the candidate with more votes wins no just kidding the candidate with the most points wins because the points represent the states which have people and people are votes which vote for a candidate in a state which makes the candidate win and he has all the votes of the state which means he has points and the points are different on each state because of the people and the votes of the state and then the points elect the president based on who has more points because the points are based on the votes of the states which have their own laws and freedom to vote on different days so that we can have a president elected by the votes of the states of the democratic country made by states which vote on different days. - Sorry, that was a bit confusing, I didnt understand. - Then it's perfect!! - Hooray!!

I based this comment on previous knowledge, but after watching the video there is apparently EVEN more to the system than what I already knew. Damn

[@jfhow]

I wonder what makes the "electors" in the "college" any more intelligent or ethical than the ordinary citizen?

[@jfhow]

@Trid the popular vote represents everyone

[@trevinbeattie4888]

According to Alexander Hamilton, “A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated [tasks].” (Federalist No 68) Of course since the advent of the telegraph everyone these days has access to the information they need to choose who they want for president … although I think many people just don’t pay enough attention to it.

[@Perehenaa]

They're equal. "College" just means that they're a group of people.

[@rogermoore-gd9do]

There is no sitcoms made today, until the US election comes round its comedy gold. The one good thing the USA has invented.

[@puchu9507]

Now guess what, that system led to selection of unsuitable candidate(an orange baboon)

[@donnpatz2779]

they way we vote in america is the perfect way to see a lot fraude.but we will never know. it's been like that for centuries.

[@ankr3755]

I think Beden going to won this election

[@liberalsarefunny4412]

🤣 that's funny

[@cassideezJaye]

But who are the electoral voters? Do they HAVE to pick who their state picked? Or they can pick who they want? Why vote if your vote doesn't really count?

[@joetaylor8602]

Dear any Americans who watch this video, How in gods name does Trump still have any support? Sincerely, the rest of the world.

[@Songbird645]

@Covert Puppytwo Why is Biden worse? Biden didn't make anti-vaxxer tweets, Biden is not a climate change denier, Biden doesn't support religion as much as Trump.

[@metricpilot7612]

Covert Puppytwo I have to agree

[@Songbird645]

@Covert Puppytwo I also have questions about Biden's mental fitness. That's one of the reasons why I didn't support him in the primary. BUT we cannot be sure if he has Alzheimer's disease. No one knows and I don't think that he will do a CT, an MRI, a PET or SPECT. At least Biden and his vice president don't spread misinformation.

[@Songbird645]

@Covert Puppytwo I know about this. These are NOT scientific statements and there is no way to prove that this information (that he gave us) is false or inaccurate. Misinformation is "false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive."

[@Songbird645]

@Covert Puppytwo If he can't do the job his vice president will do it. I am trying to say that Biden will do nothing, he is in a vegetative state. Trump on the other hand... Trump will do harm. See the Paris agreement.

[@BlueSorcerer]

this doesn't sound very democratic at all. So you vote for someone you hope will vote for the guy you want in office?

[@naifalharbe4123]

🅙🅞🅔🅑🅘🅓🅔🅝w҉i҉l҉l҉ B҉E҉ W҉I҉N҉👍

[@ImAryaStark]

I'm no expert or anything, but I find this a bit confusing. So it doesn't matter what you vote because you will get someone else to vote for you anyways? I'm genuinely confused

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

"Works" is a debatable term.

[@ericmercer4180]

There is nothing important about the president of the US for he is just a public servant. The LORD God is the only One who reigns over all things. When will this stupid world end? I am so sick and tired of all the boring repetitions. Until when will this be? Until when?

[@averagecitizen863]

Until the end of times

[@Dat-Doomba]

When you die. Cus when you die you can't do, or hear anything. So technically its over when you die. Want me to help?

[@konker420]

TDS running rampant in these comments

[@michaelstrunk7820]

so basically the peoples decision is nothing?

[@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164]

Aipac choose the winner. End the BBC licence fee.

[@shawnkwon]

Sir can I translate and use this video to educate Koreans?

[@apez1919]

Yes.

[@chriswainwright185]

Trump 2020 💖

[@yinlongliu2968]

MAGA！！！

[@TheFamousRleon]

No ❤️💙

[@TheFamousRleon]

Yinlong Liu No ❤️💙

[@TheFamousRleon]

Garry G yes!!!

[@StijnNLDutch]

I just don’t understand why if the state has a 50/50 vote, everyone still picks one side. Why would you vote in that state then ?

[@rstravelling3318]

I love joe biden

[@TheFamousRleon]

Jase Brown they won’t take their guns away (I hate your freaking lies no matter what).

[@rstravelling3318]

@Jase Brown hey

[@rstravelling3318]

Joi baiden

[@ചൊറിയൻപുഴു-ഞ1വ]

What mad gonna happen this time????¿?????????????????????😑😑😑😑😑😖😖😖😖😖

[@last_week_with_diogo_br8386]

Donald trump 2020 bolsonaro 2022

[@yinlongliu2968]

MAGA！！！！

[@fl8488]

what a ridiculous system really

[@davidh.4944]

There is sadly so much misunderstanding over the U.S. presidential electoral system, even among Americans, and much more to it than this video addresses. Here are, I hope, the main salient points you should recognize: 1) THERE IS NO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. That point needs to be understood first and foremost. The title of the office is President of the United _States_ , not of the united people. The president is chosen through a quorum of state governments, not by popular vote. It may superficially look like an election, and be called that, but it is not. Therefore... 2) THERE IS NO "POPULAR VOTE", except as a statistical curiosity. What there are, are 50 (+1) individual state referenda, which the various state governments use to judge the collective will of their populaces. The voice of the people in national government is expressed through the directly elected representatives in Congress. The president's job is (ideally) to simply be the executor of the public will, as expressed through the decisions of that congress. 3) THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT ELECTIONS BE HELD AT ALL. Our constitution only mandates that states supply a number of electors to the college equal to their congressional representation; they are free to determine who they send pretty much any way they choose (and in the early years electors were often chosen directly by state legislatures). It is only through evolutionary convergence and convenience that every state eventually agreed to use pretty much the same system of popular vote, and to all hold them on the same day. 4) The fact that presidents are occasionally chosen contrary to public opinion is NOT a failure of the system, but a sign that it is working exactly as intended. By giving candidates a second path to victory (through winning many small states rather than just a few big ones), they are encouraged to not just focus on the few most populous states, but to give at least some consideration to all of them. Again, the president is chosen by the *states* , not the people. 5) Yes, candidates do focus on swing states the most, but it needs to be recognized that _any_ state could be that one pivotal battleground, and thus which states are "swing" changes over time. The electoral system therefore gives smaller states a larger voice in the process than they would otherwise have under a direct democracy. This was a conscious design decision, and an important one. One of the chief concerns of our founding fathers was avoiding, as far as possible, the tyranny of the majority. The very last thing they wanted was for our presidents to be continuously determined by just the small handful of most populous states. 6) There is no need to dismantle our electoral system to "fix" its problems. The discrepancy between the "popular" vote and the electoral vote could be mostly eliminated simply by getting the states to change their election systems from winner-takes-all to one that apportions electoral votes by congressional district (plus 2 "senate" votes for the statewide winner). Two states, Nebraska and Maine, already do this. In short, stop thinking you know how to fix our system before you understand it. While it could certainly use a few tweaks and updates here and there, by and large it isn't broken. It is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

[@omolash]

I still don't get it.