Forum Topic

Growing number of UK experts on US electoral college :-) :-) :-)

Ivonne Holliday ● 1999d20 Comments

Thank you for that. Yes, I slipped away in June. As you say, nothing much has happened, just more of the same. And likely it will carry on.  I have decided to listen to Voltaire's Candide. Sadly, as a rather non-greenfingered type, with a bad back, I am striving to concentrate on general house maintenance (and 'weeding'), and selling the odd secondhand book. I have not kept up with either task, and they are both quite satisfying.

David Ainsworth ● 1998d

Don’t hold you breath!  Don’t recall ever voting for any of them.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1998d

Hello David. Welcome back. We haven’t heard from you for a time. Still, nothing much has happened in the last few months.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1998d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibX0TPI3a9w

Richard Carter ● 1998d

The US turnout is estimated to be between 68.6 and 72.1% (Bloomberg).However they voted that is excellent news.It would be good to see UK turnout back up to the 80%. Early voting has definitely helped the US.

Ed Robinson ● 1999d

And advice from Greta 🙂https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/05/greta-thunberg-donald-trump-twitter-chill

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

Just to clarify, Ivonne. I wasn't implying that US election officials were better than those in the UK, just that I don't think the ones in the UK have had to deal with the sort of comments Trumps is making? Trump has just got used to bullying people in his business dealings to get an advantage, that doesn't work with the electorate in a democracy - although I know some of my US friends are concerned that even though Biden will win the popular vote and, most likely, the electoral college the vote for Trump's has also increased - so a significant portion of US citizens think bullying is good and don't care about climate change or fairness in things like healthcare. It also looks like Trumps is trying to use the law as his last ditch V weapons (but that strategy didn't work well for the Nazis) ... still some of the senior Republicans look like they may be breaking ranks with Trump but expect another week of recounts!

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

I agree Craig, and thought this was rather appropriate.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1999d

Yes, I agree with the final counts and apologies to DA for misunderstanding the comment.  The rolling "updates" are a ridiculous idea.  I just tend to read the overall total of electoral college seats and no more. 

Ivonne Holliday ● 1999d

Ivonne I would have to disagreed, but I may change my mind when the UK's upper house ballots start getting counted.

Ed Robinson ● 1999d

It's hilarious that Trump is demanding the counts are stopped in the states where he's ahead, but that they should continue in the one's where he's behind. Good to see some senior Republicans calling out this ridiculous behaviour.Also nice to see John McCain's wonderful concession speech from 2008 doing the round again.  The contrast between this classy individual and the man-child currently in the White House couldn't be more stark

Craig Fordham ● 1999d

Apologies, I meant to refer to each state's ongoing count, where we heard the current state-of-play, which changed over time in its Rep/Dem proportions, rather than an end result when every vote had been counted. All we hear in the UK is the end results, don't we?

David Ainsworth ● 1999d

Ivonne. One gets  individual results from constituencies through the night in thge UK but I don't think you get the progress of individual counts, you only get the figures when an individual result is declared?

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

I disagree that they are doing better than the UK.  The US, as the UK, has a very well oiled machine when it comes to elections.   The problem the US has, in this instance, is COVID-19, postal voting and Trump saying that the postal votes could not be counted during election day. POTUS is having a monumental tantrum, like a spoiled brat, because he hates losing — or being told he has lost.  He has to have the final say in everything; you do as I say and not as I do! I think this article is very relevant.  "Trump sons attack Republicans for 'weak' backing.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54835454

Ivonne Holliday ● 1999d

Perhaps it makes for better TV? But if they come up with an answer at the end just saying it's Donald or it's Joe would that stop people disbelieving it? I suppose it's a bit like showing ones workings in a maths exam, only a lot more public? What's more worrying is influential politicians making statements that they show no evidence for which are likely to incite people to violence.  

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

Does that not happen at each election everywhere?  As results are published, they are shown in every  statistic and graph you can think of?  It happens in the UK.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1999d

I've been impressed with the professionalism of the US election officials that have been interviewed - their stress on accuracy, the importance of doing it correctly rather than how long it takes, particularly in the face of Donald Trump's accusation of fraud ... (which I'm sure is true of those in the UK as well)

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

Whoever thought that it was a good idea to release the candidates' shares of the votes at various stages of the count? What possible good could come of that?

David Ainsworth ● 1999d

Sounds like Donald Trump needs an expert to explain to him how US elections work ...

Michael Ixer ● 1999d

We should remember that they are counting upper house (Congress) votes too.So not doing too bad on counting when compared to the UK :)

Ed Robinson ● 1999d