Paul Gallo: Making everyone’s vote truly count

If electoral votes from each state were awarded to presidential candidates in proportion to the percentage of ballot votes each received, we would have an election where every vote truly counts. The “winner-take-all” method currently used by nearly every state disregards all votes for candidates getting less than 50% of the total state vote.

Because there are clear and predictable Democrat or Republican majorities in approximately 43 states, the expected winner of 100% of the electoral votes from those states is taken for granted. Consequently, the presidential race is essentially decided by seven “swing” states, which preoccupy the candidates. Shouldn’t the candidates focus on and solicit votes from all 50 states?

A proportional award of electoral votes to each candidate would make all ballot votes influence each candidates’ cumulative electoral vote tally. U.S. Constitution Article II states, “The electors … shall make a list of all persons voted for, and the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government.” There is nothing in our Constitution requiring the “winner-take-all” policy used by 48 states.

A proportional awarding of electoral votes does not alter the influence each state has on the outcome but would make everyone’s vote truly count.

Paul Gallo

Barre