This tab provides access to the Introduction in How to Make All Votes Matter! The link to the PDF is found here.
The following text provides brief descriptions of the remaining chapters, providing you an overview of what is covered in the book:
Chapter Descriptions
How to Make All Votes Matter in The U.S. Presidential Elections covers the topics described below. You are free to read them in any order. However, while there is no plot to follow, the chapters build upon each other in subtle ways that help provide the nuance and understanding needed to appreciate what they offer. It is suggested to read them in the order presented.
Chapter One – How the Electoral College Began
Any discussion of the Electoral College must consider its history. Introducing some basic terminology along with a brief treatment of what was considered when our U.S. Constitution was crafted forms a baseline from which a more thorough discussion can ensue. It will be noted that much discussion was enjoined by the Constitutional Framers to design a voting mechanism that would be fair to everyone enjoying a form of governance by We the People.
Chapter Two – A Purposeful Beginning
It’s easy to say that the Electoral College was established to identify a winning candidate and next President of the United States. But it is much more than that. It is a mechanism that captures and gives representation to the voters. It also recognizes the sovereignty of the individual states. And, to add to this crossroads of vying interests, the Electoral College mechanism was designed to provide a system of checks and balances to guard against corruption and fraud and, importantly, to distribute the power of the vote. In fact, it was put in place to guard against a pure democracy that, as history informs us, can give rise to mob rule and tyranny. It’s a check to ensure our representative democracy can persist through times of challenge and stress.
As we consider a voting mechanism, it is beneficial to consider the concerns of our Constitutional Framers. The chapter discusses some basic tests that can be applied to any voting mechanism under consideration. Simply stated, there are three fundamental voting tests: all votes must matter, all states must be heard, and a system of voting checks and balance must work. From this perspective, these tests will be applied and considered for a simple popular vote, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) approach, and Equal Voice Voting (EVV).
Chapter Three – Consistency Matters
This chapter is a return to Electoral College basics. It demonstrates how the voting mechanism is a proportional allocation of votes on a state-by-state basis. It also shows the freedom states have for managing their respective allocated electoral votes. The Winner-Takes-All (WTA) aspect is discussed and is shown how it is also applied in congressional district voting, which is used in Maine and Nebraska. The chapter finishes by showing how the states have chosen to switch voting methods in midstream, akin to a marketing bait and switch scheme.
Chapter Four – Equal Voice Voting (EVV)
Equal Voice Voting is explained, including the mathematical formula, with examples of what could have been experienced in past elections. The advantages of requiring neither a constitutional amendment nor an interstate compact are discussed. An examination of voting disparities, differences between Electoral College and popular vote results, is provided. A few elections are closely examined to show the differences that could have been realized if EVV had been used instead. The voting device that the Constitutional Framers included should elections be narrow is explained, showing that there would be no need for Supreme Court interference to select a president. Finally, it is shown that EVV meets the aforementioned voting tests.
Chapter Five – Interference
Interference in our voting for a president, limiting us from experiencing an inclusive process, comes from various sources. Initially, the actual collection of ballots posed some challenges. Adding to the problem of interference was the fact that slaves, people of color, and women could not vote. Even white men who did not own property were excluded. Through the times since when the constitution was written, voters have been refrained from voting through various nefarious voter suppression techniques. Finally, due to the Winner-Takes-All (WTA) approach we still use, almost half of those voting are disenfranchised such that their votes for a president gain no representation in the Electoral College.
Chapter Six – Safety, Tests, and Benefits
This chapter discusses close elections with third-party candidates, explaining what happens if the Electoral College majority threshold of 270 electoral votes is not reached. The discussion reveals some of the ingenuity placed in the Electoral College to address such concerns.
The safety provided by the Constitutional Framers of state electors is discussed. Usually, electors vote as does the state’s voting citizens but sometimes disloyal electors surface, disrupting expectations.
Checks and balances, a hallmark of the U.S. Constitution comes into play with the requirement for candidates to capture the consensus of the people while also capturing a commanding coalition of states. It is thought that the current Electoral College process adheres to this intent but Winner-Takes-All (WTA) breaks down the election firewall. An ultra-wide variance in voting, comparing the popular and Electoral College results, shows that the popular vote can be terribly suppressed while delivering an electoral vote victory.
Importantly, the power of the vote is not allowed to collect in any portion of the country due to a state’s size or population density. The power of the vote is distributed across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on a proportional basis. It is one of the benefits of our nation being a republic as each state’s voting sovereignty is retained.
Voting tests are discussed, showing how the standards discussed in Chapter Two come into play. Each presidential election should be fair, equal, inclusive and engaging. Following the Framers’ intention, such elections should also capture the popular vote (sentiment of the governed), the sovereign state voting voice, and still provide checks and balances. The chapter compares test results from our current presidential election process with what could be experienced with EVV.
Finally, the chapter shows how EVV provides the benefit of being nonpartisan. There is no political advantage realized by the election mechanism approach as all votes matter and all viable candidates gain representation. Further, the chapter discusses how the current swing state phenomenon could disappear as EVV would make every state that uses it significant.
Chapter Seven – The Popular Vote
Sensing something is wrong, many throughout our nation’s history have wanted to change the voting process for a more popular vote approach. This chapter discusses how adopting this approach requires a constitutional amendment, showing what that requires. The popular vote is viewed from the vantage point of our Constitutional Framers, who abhorred a direct democracy. The dangers for sustainability and corruption of such an approach are discussed. The chapter points out how ours is a very diverse nation and deserves a more sensitive treatment than using one process for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For example, different states have different voting rules regarding voter identification and the treatment of felons. Further, the nation can be compared to Europe but not to an individual European country due the geographic expanse of the United States and the assimilation of a plethora of cultures. The chapter also reveals why the popular vote approach fails the voting tests mentioned in the previous chapter.
Chapter Eight – The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC)
The chapter on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) approach explains the idea and its requirements. It also explains how the approach is ridiculous, radical, and dangerous. The chapter shows how volatile the election results can become and, thereby, lead to a false narrative that can be foisted upon the nation by the media and political party agendas. Other concerns that possibly may emerge are identified further showing how NPVIC fails the voting tests and our nation.
Chapter Nine – The 2024 election
This chapter is used as a proof of concept as it shows how the results from the 2024 election would play out, if all voting had been the same, as comparisons between what was experienced and what could have happened if EVV were used across the nation. Also, a plausible scenario is provided showing how NPVIC could have affected the Electoral College results in that year’s election, had the compact had been completed and the approach used.
Chapter Ten – And Now This
The tenth chapter is a collection of observations and considerations that may emerge in other discussions surrounding our election process. Gerrymandering, for example, is discussed with some congressional district formation principles that may lend credence to better representation. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is discussed showing that it is not at odds with Equal Voice Voting (EVV) but can, with some minor mathematical modifications, coincide well with what EVV delivers. Finally, the chapter delves into some general aspects of what it takes to meet the job requirement of being a U.S. President. It shows that popularity alone is not enough and that an appreciation of and deep familiarity with our governing institutions, coupled with sound leadership skills, are needed.
Chapter Eleven – Next Steps
This chapter is simply a response to the question, “So what?” It is realized that nothing in governance happens without first there being public awareness and public conversations that lead to legislation. Once you have read this book and are aware of how the Electoral College truly functions, and why and how EVV better serves the nation, you will be encouraged to share it with others. Such sharing, including contacting your state legislators with this information, will further enable your state to ensure better voter representation for all voting citizenries. Such legislation will ensure all votes matter and that your state is heard in the next presidential election.
Appendix – Previous Election Data
The seventeen previous presidential election data are provided, on a state-by-state basis, spanning elections from 1960 through 2024. The data compare what occurred during those elections and what could have happened if EVV were used instead.