Give back the vote

Riddle me this, people. What is it that most of the major democratic countries possess that America, a country that many would consider a leading democracy throughout the world, doesn’t have but so desperately needs? No, it’s not universal health care, nor is it relaxed drug laws. It is fair and balanced elections. For years now, I have run into many people, mostly younger people, who when asked why they don’t vote, have brought up the fact that the Electoral College voters, not the American people, actually elect the president. And when presented with this comment, I have repeatedly pointed out that throughout American history, the voters of the Electoral College have typically voted according to the results of the popular vote from the state they represent. Now, I completely understand the reason why the Founding Fathers created the Electoral College system, even though I disagree with it. In a nutshell, I’d say they didn’t feel the masses were knowledgeable enough to elect a leader of a nation. And every time I watch MTV, this decision is validated. But even as I have come to cope with the Electoral College, I have recently learned about a new loop hole in the system that many feel would make their vote obsolete. \nDespite the gains that Sen. Barack Obama has made over Sen. Hillary Clinton in recent weeks, Clinton still has confidence that she will be the winner, and justly so considering the race for delegates is extremely close. If she is behind, she is counting on superdelegates to carry her to the nomination. In case you have no clue what a “superdelegate” is, as I didn’t until a week or so ago, it is an elected party official within the Democratic National Committee who has a chance to vote at the convention for a candidate who didn’t have to win the popular vote. A superdelegate’s vote is worth more than a “regular” person’s vote, thus basically giving party insiders more power to decide instead of the American people.\nThese two niches in the election system are just two of the many things that are in drastic need of change within the American election system. For America to be the superpower of the world, a flagship for democracy and yet to have such major flaws when it comes to electing presidents is quite simply embarrassing. It seems as if most of the healthy democracies have managed to create good and logical election systems. Among these include: systems with more than two viable political parties, proportional representation that is reflective of the whole population and controlled campaigned spending. Among the biggest things most have that we don’t are systems where the people’s vote really counts, without any loop holes or special exceptions. There is no need for people of many of the healthy democracies to think their vote doesn’t count because there is no Electoral College or superdelegates. Simply put, to increase voter participation in America, change the system!