Stuff You Should Know SYSK Selects: How the Electoral College Works
Oct 3, 2020
Unravel the complexities of the Electoral College and discover why your vote is really a vote for electors. Learn about 'faithless electors' and enjoy a humorous take on fictional characters like John Goodman in TV shows. Explore historical elections, notably the contentious 2000 election, and the impact of disenfranchisement. Delve into popular misconceptions and the systems behind electing a president, highlighting the ongoing debates surrounding this pivotal and often misunderstood aspect of American democracy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Electoral College: A Confusing Compromise
- In US presidential elections, voters don't directly choose the candidate.
- They vote for electors who then cast the actual votes for president.
Hidden Electors
- Voters often don't know who their electors are.
- Electors' names sometimes don't even appear on the ballot.
A Local Elector
- Chuck Bryant was surprised to find his local electors' addresses publicly available.
- He joked about confronting them about their responsibility.