With the U.S. Election in full swing, the podcast delves into how the electoral process works, emphasizing the critical role of securing 270 electoral votes. It highlights the concept of 'safe states' and their influence on campaign strategies. The discussion also touches on the unique voting system differences between the U.S. and Australia, and the importance of swing states that can tilt the election outcome. Finally, insights are shared on polling shifts and the electoral dynamics impacting candidates.
The U.S. voting system allows voters to choose individual candidates instead of parties, resulting in lower participation rates compared to countries like Australia.
Swing states play a critical role in elections, as their unpredictable outcomes significantly influence which candidate secures the necessary electoral votes to win.
Deep dives
Overview of the U.S. Voting System
The U.S. voting system differs significantly from other countries like Australia. In the U.S., voters choose an individual candidate rather than a political party, and voting is not compulsory, leading to lower participation rates. For example, in the 2020 election, just over 60% of eligible voters participated, equating to over 100 million people. Additionally, U.S. elections are held on a Tuesday to accommodate a historically agrarian society, making it logistically challenging for individuals to vote while managing their work commitments.
Understanding the Electoral College
The Electoral College plays a crucial role in determining the U.S. presidency and is separate from the popular vote. Candidates must secure a majority of the 538 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win. Importantly, all of a state's electoral votes go to the candidate who wins the majority of that state's popular votes, leading to instances where a candidate can lose the popular vote nationally but win the presidency. For example, in 2016, Hillary Clinton received 3 million more popular votes than Donald Trump but lost the election due to the electoral system.
The Importance of Swing States
Swing states are pivotal in U.S. elections as they can flip between Democratic and Republican candidates, significantly influencing the outcome. In the current election, crucial swing states identified include Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, among others, with tight polling in these areas. These states are expected to declare their results later in the election process, making them the centers of attention. The results from these swing states ultimately dictate which candidate reaches the coveted 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
As this podcast episode goes out this morning, millions of people in the US are voting for the country’s next president.
So, how does the U.S. voting system work? What are the key swing states? When will we know the result of this election?
These are the key questions we are answering on today's podcast. It's an easy guide on exactly what you need to know.
Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Zara Seidler Producer: Orla Maher
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