Speaker 1: All right, buckle up, everybody, because today we are diving
deep into a system that's caused more arguments than well,
just about anything I can think of. Oh yeah, yeah,
the electoral college.
Speaker 2: Oh that's a good one.
Speaker 1: I think most people think they've got to figure it out.
Speaker 3: Right.
Speaker 1: We vote the person with the most votes wins, end
of story.
Speaker 2: If only were that simple.
Speaker 3: So what's the real story, Well, the US presidential elections
are a lot more like a giant game of capture
the Flag than just a simple popularity contest.
Speaker 1: Okay, capture the flag. I'm intrigued. So you're saying it's
not just about who gets the most individual votes exactly.
Speaker 3: Think of it this way. Each state is like its
own playing field, and the prize is electoral votes. Okay,
and the candidate who wins the majority of those electoral votes, well,
they win the whole shebang.
Speaker 1: All right, lay it on me. What's the magic number
to unlock the presidency?
Speaker 2: It's two hundred and seventy, two.
Speaker 1: Hundred and seventy electoral votes.
Speaker 3: Yeap, two hundred and seventy. That's the golden ticket to
becoming the leader of the free war.
Speaker 1: Okay, two to seventy, got it. But how do we
even get to that number? Like, does every state get
the same amount of electoral votes?
Speaker 3: That's actually a great question, Okay, and no, not at all.
It's all based on a state's representation in Congress, so
the number of House of Representatives members they have plus
their two senators.
Speaker 1: So does that mean bigger states with more people automatically
have more power in an election?
Speaker 3: Well, in a way, yes, they have more electoral votes
to offer.
Speaker 2: Think about California for.
Speaker 3: Example, huge state, right, fifty four electoral votes. Wow, Texas
comes in second with forty. Candidates know they've got to
win over these electoral vote giants.
Speaker 1: I bet those states see a lot of campaign action
huh Oh.
Speaker 3: Absolutely, They're constantly bombarded with campaign stops, rallies, and media attention.
Candidates know they can't afford to ignore them.
Speaker 1: So what about the states with smaller populations? Do their
votes even matter? If California and Texas are hogging all
the electoral spotlight.
Speaker 2: That's where it gets interesting.
Speaker 3: While individual votes than those less populated states might feel
like they carry less weight compared to.
Speaker 2: A giant like California.
Speaker 3: Yeah, the system actually gives them a bit of a boost.
Speaker 2: Proportionally.
Speaker 3: Remember, every state automatically gets those two extra electoral votes
for their senator, yes, right, regardless of population size.
Speaker 1: So it's like a built in balancing act. Right. Population matters,
but it's not the only thing that determines the state's influence.
Speaker 2: Exact.
Speaker 1: It's like this fascinating dance between population size, the number
of states, and how those votes are distributed. Okay, started
making my head spin a little, but I have a
feeling it's about to get even more complex.
Speaker 3: Well, you're right about that, okay, because now we need
to talk about swing states.
Speaker 1: Swing states. Okay, now we're talking Those are the states
that could go either way in an election exactly.
Speaker 3: They're like the wildcards that keep everyone on the edge
of their seats.
Speaker 1: Oh totally. I remember living in a swing state during
a presidential election.
Speaker 2: Oh wow, what was that like?
Speaker 1: It was crazy? The energy was electric. Every conversation felt
like it had these high stakes, and everyone was glued
to the polls waiting to see which way our state
would swing.
Speaker 2: I can only imagine.
Speaker 3: And for candidates, those swing states are like gold mines.
They know they need to win them over if they
want to secure those all important electoral votes.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've got electoral votes swing states and this
whole capture the flag analogy. What am I missing?
Speaker 3: Well, we've talked about the votes themselves, but what about
the people who actually cast those votes?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 2: Yeah, the electors.
Speaker 3: These are the individuals chosen by each state to officially
vote for president.
Speaker 1: The electors. Almost sounds like a secret society.
Speaker 2: Or something, you know, it kind of is.
Speaker 1: So how did these electors even get chosen? Are they
like celebrities or politicians? Spill the tea.
Speaker 3: It varies from state to state, but generally they're chosen
by their political parties. And get this, they're pledged to
vote for the candidate who wins the popular vote in
their state.
Speaker 1: Wait, hold on, let me make sure I'm following us correctly.
So we the people vote, our state tallies up the
votes yep, and then these electors cast their votes based
on the outcome of the popular vote in their state.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 3: It's like a two step process to make the results official.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm starting to see how the pieces of this
puzzle fit together. Voters, electoral votes, and then these mysterious
electors who act as the official vote casters.
Speaker 3: It's a system that has evolved over centuries.
Speaker 1: Okay, So after all the votes are cast and the
electors have their say, what happens next? Do they all
hop on a plane to Washington, DC and make it official?
Speaker 2: Not quite.
Speaker 3: They actually meet in their respective states in December to
formally cast their votes.
Speaker 1: Really.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's like the electoral college is coming together across
the country. Okay, piece by piece.
Speaker 1: So picture this. It's December and in every state capital
there's this group of electors gathered together, casting their votes
and sending the results to Washington. It's like a nationwide
relay race exactly.
Speaker 2: The pretty incredible process when you think about it.
Speaker 1: And of course Washington, DC is the finish line. That's
where Congress comes in to make it all official.
Speaker 2: Rest, we got it.
Speaker 3: Congress has the very important task of officially counting and
certifying those electoral votes.
Speaker 1: So every branch of government gets in on the action.
This is more complex than I thought. When does this
official vote counting ceremony happen?
Speaker 2: Mark your tallendars for January sixth.
Speaker 1: January sixth, you know, it's hard not to think about
what happened to the Capitol on that date back in
twenty twenty one. It really shows how important this process
is and how fragile our democracy can be.
Speaker 3: Absolutely, it's a date that's etched into our nation's history
and it reminds us of how crucial it is to
have a peaceful transfer of power.
Speaker 1: So everything comes down to this pivotal day, January sixth.
But what if someone tries to challenge the electoral votes?
Can that even happen?
Speaker 3: That's a great question, and yes it is possible. There
are safeguards built into the system where lawmakers can object
to a state's results during the certification process. It doesn't
happen all the time, but it is a possibility.
Speaker 1: Hold on, and after all the votes are cast, the
electors meet, there's still room for debate and challenges. This
is way more intricate than I realized.
Speaker 3: You're right, it's not as simple as it might seem.
There are layers upon layers to this process, each with
its own role to play and ensuring accuracy, fairness, and
a peaceful transfer of power.
Speaker 1: Wow, I'm already blown away. It's like this giant, intricate
clock with all these moving parts working together, this electoral college.
It's a lot to take in.
Speaker 2: It definitely is a lot to take in. Welcome back, folks.
Speaker 1: Okay, so before the break, we were talking about how
even after all the voting and all the electoral votes
are cast, someone could still object to the results.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a fascinating part of the process.
Speaker 1: Has that ever happened like in real life?
Speaker 3: It definitely has, especially in really close elections. You'll see
lawmakers raising objections and trying to make their case.
Speaker 1: Wow. So it's not just the theoretical possibility, it's actually happened.
Speaker 3: Right, And I think it shows you how much emphasis
is placed on checks and balances in our system. It's
not just to one and done kind of deal.
Speaker 1: But I imagine they could get messy pretty quickly if
every election ended up with a bunch of legal battles
and arguments. Wouldn't that undermine the whole idea of a
peaceful transfer of power.
Speaker 3: That's a really good point, and that's why there's a
specific structure in place for handling these objections.
Speaker 1: Okay, so walk me through it. Let's say a lawmaker
does object to a state's results.
Speaker 3: What happens next, Well, it doesn't just bring everything to
a screeching halt. Okay, both the House of Representatives and
the Senate have to debate the objection separately and then
vote on whether to uphold it or dismiss it.
Speaker 1: So there's still a chance for the results to be
overturned even after all that.
Speaker 3: Technically, yes, but it's a very high bar to clear.
It's not something that's taken lightly.
Speaker 1: Wow, that's intense. I can almost picture the lawmakers in
their chambers arguing back and forth, all that tension in
the air as they get ready to vote.
Speaker 3: Oh. Absolutely, and don't forget the vice president actually presides
over this whole process.
Speaker 1: Really, yep.
Speaker 3: They're the ones who open the envelopes with the electoral
votes and announce the results to everyone.
Speaker 1: Wow. Talk about being in the hot seat. Can you
imagine standing up there knowing the whole nation is watching,
waiting to hear who the next president will be.
Speaker 3: It's definitely a historic moment, and it's a role that's
taken on even more significance in recent years.
Speaker 1: Yeah, after everything that's happened. You know, sometimes it's easy
to think about the electoral College as just this abstract concept,
but it has real.
Speaker 3: Consequences, absolutely, and it really reflects the unique history and
structure of the US. You know, when the founding fathers
were creating this country, they spent a lot of time
thinking about how to balance power between states and the
federal government.
Speaker 1: So the electoral college was their way of making sure
smaller states still had a voice in choosing the president exactly.
Speaker 3: They didn't want a system where the states with the
biggest populations could just dominate every election. They wanted the
president to have to appeal to a broad range of
voters across the country.
Speaker 1: That makes sense. It's about representing all the different voices
and perspectives that make up the US.
Speaker 3: And that's why the electoral college is such a controversial topic.
There are really strong arguments on both sides of the debate.
I could see that some people think it's outdated and undemocratic,
while others see it as a vital part of our
system of government.
Speaker 1: It's fascinating how one system can spark so much debate.
Makes me wonder if you could ever see the electoral
college abolished or reformed in a major way.
Speaker 3: It's a question that's been around for decades, that's for sure. Yeah,
there's been a lot of talk about moving to a
direct popular vote system, where the candidate who gets the
most individual votes nationwide wins.
Speaker 1: That sounds pretty straightforward. Why wouldn't we want to do that?
It seems like it'd be a lot simpler.
Speaker 3: It might seem simpler on the surface, but some potential
downsides need.
Speaker 2: To be considered, like what well.
Speaker 3: People who are against a direct popular vote worry that
it could weaken the influence of smaller states and rural communities.
They're concerned candidates would focus all their absention on winning
over voters in big cities and might ignore the needs
of less populated areas.
Speaker 1: I get it. So it's a trade off, right. We
want to ensure that every single vote counts, but we
also want to make sure that every part of the
country fuels represented and heard exactly.
Speaker 3: And that's what makes this debate so complex. There are
valid arguments on both sides, and any changes could have
major implications for our whole political system.
Speaker 1: You know, thinking back to those election night broadcasts I
used to watch with the red and blue states and
the electoral votes sticking up, it all makes so much
more sense now. It's like a giant chess game playing
out across the country and every move matters.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it.
Speaker 1: Coming into this deep dive I thought I had a
decent grasp on the electoral College, but wow, there's so
much more to it than I ever imagined.
Speaker 3: It just goes to show that even the things we
think we understand can still surprise us. And when we're
talking about something as important as democracy, it's vital to
keep learning and questioning.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've talked about electors, objections, the role of Congress.
What happens next, Like, after all the votes are counted
and everything's certified, what's the grand finale of this whole
electoral drama.
Speaker 3: Well, after all that, we finally get to an inauguration day, right.
Speaker 1: All the pomp and circumstance, the swearing in ceremony, the
new president addressing the nation, say a fresh start.
Speaker 3: You know, it's a tradition that goes back centuries and
it symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power.
Speaker 1: So that's it. The electoral College's job.
Speaker 2: Is done in a way.
Speaker 3: Yes, once the new president is sworn in, the focus
shifts to governing, but the electoral College still has an impact.
It shapes how we view elections and it definitely keeps
the debate alive about how we choose our leaders.
Speaker 1: This deep dive has been amazing. I feel like I
could actually hold a conversation about the electoral college now
without sounding totally clueless.
Speaker 2: I'm glad to hear that.
Speaker 3: But before we wrap things up, I want to give
you a real world example of how a candidate could
win the presidency without winning the popular vote.
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, walk me through that. I think that's one
of the things that confuses people the most.
Speaker 3: All right, So imagine a scenario where one candidate wins
a few very populous states, but just by a small margin,
and then another candidate wins a lot more states, but
they're less populated, so they win by a bigger margin
in those states.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm following. So far, one candidate is racking up
votes in those big states with lots of electoral votes,
and the other is winning in those smaller states exactly.
Speaker 3: And even though the first candidate might have more individual
votes overall, the second candidate could still win the presidency
if they get more electoral votes from all those smaller states.
It all comes back to that magic number two hundred
and seventy.
Speaker 1: Ah, it's not just about winning the most states. It's
about winning the right states, the ones that will give
you enough electoral votes. It's like a giant.
Speaker 3: Puzzle exactly, so why candidates need to be strategic about
where they campaign and how they use their resources. They
have to understand the electoral college map and figure out
the best way to get to two seventy.
Speaker 1: I am loving this deep dive. It's like we're uncovering
all these lay of complexity I never even do exist it.
Speaker 2: It's fascinating, isn't it.
Speaker 3: And you know, there's one more thing I wanted to
touch on before we finish up. We've talked about the
mechanics of the electoral college, the arguments for and against it,
all that stuff, But at the end of the day,
it's a reflection of our values as a country, our history,
and how we're always trying to improve our democracy.
Speaker 1: That's a great point. It's a reminder that these systems
are a part of.
Speaker 3: Who we are, absolutely and that's why it's so important
for us to understand them, talk about them, and participate
in shaping their future.
Speaker 1: My brain is efficially full of electoral college knowledge. I
think it's time for us to give our listeners a
break to process all this too.
Speaker 2: Sounds good. We'll be back in a bit to wrap
things up.
Speaker 1: Welcome back to the show everyone. So we spent this
entire episode exploring the ins and outs of the electoral College,
and man, it's been a wild.
Speaker 2: Ride, it really has.
Speaker 3: It's a system that's full of surprises.
Speaker 1: Totally, and after all this, I'm still left wondering what's
next for the electoral College. Is that something that's going
to stick around or could we actually see it change?
Speaker 2: Well, that's the big question, isn't it.
Speaker 3: I Mean, it's been the subject of debate for years
and years, and there are some people who think it's
time to get rid of it completely. Yeah, yeah, and
just move to a nationwide popular vote where whoever gets
the most votes across the country wins period.
Speaker 1: I mean, that does seem like the simplest solution. Why
not just count all the votes and let the chips
fall where they may.
Speaker 2: It sounds pretty straightforward, right yeah.
Speaker 3: But it's not quite that simple because critics of a
direct popular vote worry that it could actually reduce the
influence of smaller states and you know, uh huh, and
it could lead to candidates focusing only on big cities
and ignoring the needs of rural communities.
Speaker 1: Right, that's all about finding that balance, isn't it. We
want every vote to matter, but we also want to
make sure that all parts of the country feel like
they have a voice in the process.
Speaker 2: Exactly. It's tricky.
Speaker 3: It's a tough one, for sure, and it's why this
debate is so complex. I mean, any changes to the
electoral college would have huge implications for our entire political system.
Speaker 1: It makes you realize that the founding fathers had a
lot to consider when they were creating this system. They
were dealing with a very different political landscape than we
have today.
Speaker 3: Oh absolutely, and it's so important to understand that historical
context when we're talking about the electoral college.
Speaker 1: You know, I'll admit I had some pretty strong opinions
about the electoral college before we started this deep dive,
but now I see it from a totally different perspective.
Oh yeah, It's not just a way to choose a president.
It's really a reflection of our values as a country
and our history and this ongoing journey we're on to
create a more perfect union.
Speaker 3: Well said, and I think that's the beauty of these
deep dives. They challenge us to think critically and look
beyond the surface of things.
Speaker 1: So, if our listeners take away one thing from this episode,
what would you want it to be.
Speaker 3: I'd say the most important thing to remember is that
the electoral College, as weird and controversial as it may
seem sometimes, yeah, it's a vital part of our democracy.
Speaker 1: I agree.
Speaker 3: It's constantly evolving and it needs us to be engaged
and informed citizens to ensure it continues to serve its purpose.
Speaker 1: Well that's about all the time we have for today.
A huge thank you to our expert for guiding us
through this fascinating exploration of the electoral college, and to
all of you for listening in. Keep those brains buzzing, folks,
and we'll catch you on the next deep dive.