Could a democratic controlled congress and presidency change voting in the US with laws?

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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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In the history of our country, 4 presidents took office while their opponent won the popular votes.

Two of these were in the 18th century, two in this century.

In 2000 and 2016 the selfish, greedy, and mostly under-educated have ruled, and done untold damage to our country, and most alarming, our freedoms. Result, two of the longest, most expensive wars that we ended up simply withdrawing from, and the complete cluster fuck that is currently going on. Had enough?

The rural state voters have more power with their vote than the majority of people. The Electoral College, and the Senate provide them with an advantage that endangers our country and our freedoms.

When a voter in Wyoming casts their ballot for president, they are effectively stuffing the ballot box with four ballots as compared to a voter in California.
Worst case: a candidate could win the Electoral College while winning only 22.16% of the popular vote due to this imbalance.

The imbalance in the Senate is even more extreme.
  • A senator from California represents almost 20,000,000 people.
  • A senator from Wyoming represents only 250,000 people.
Effectively a person in Wyoming has 80 times more say, through their Senator, than a person in California.
Don't forget the House was also capped at x members a looking time ago and so folks in more popular areas have less representation there too. Add in gerrymandering and voter suppression, and the whole system is fucked.
 
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dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
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Yeah and good luck getting the two thirds in both the House and Senate let alone three-fourths of the states to agree to an amendment to abolish the electoral college or something similar.
EC may not need to be killed if most states adopt proportional elector distribution. as far as I know only 2 have that, Maine and Nebraska.
 
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ewdotson

Golden Member
Oct 30, 2011
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One thing Congress could easily do to aid voting: declare the federal election day a national holiday. Even if Republicans try to make it difficult for minorities to line up, at least those people wouldn't have to take a day off work to line up early.
While I'm all for them doing so, I'm somewhat skeptical that making election day a federal holiday would actually make all that big of a difference. Only folks working for the government would be guaranteed the day off. For example, today is Columbus Day. It's a federal holiday. The nation is … not exactly shutting down for it.
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
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While I'm all for them doing so, I'm somewhat skeptical that making election day a federal holiday would actually make all that big of a difference. Only folks working for the government would be guaranteed the day off. For example, today is Columbus Day. It's a federal holiday. The nation is … not exactly shutting down for it.

I see it as better than nothing, and making it a holiday would increase pressure to give employees the day off (as some tech companies have done lately).
 

uclaLabrat

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2007
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My company also has a floater holiday that can be used for any federal or religious holiday not currently recognized/observed for the company, OR your birthday.
 

dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
11,347
2,709
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My company also has a floater holiday that can be used for any federal or religious holiday not currently recognized/observed for the company, OR your birthday.
we get 3 floaters and 5 personal days that can be taken for what ever reason