DocBug

Vote Counting

I've been having an email discussion about the electoral college and whether it makes your vote “count for less” in non-swing states. I think there's a fallacy in the whole “my vote doesn't count” argument — it's like saying “Nadar voters lost the election for Gore” and ignoring the possibility that the millions of people who voted for Bush might have played some small part as well.

To see where you stand on this issue, try this thought experiment:

It's the day before the election, and 100 people are going to vote in a city council race between Smith and Jones. How much will my vote count?

• A) 1/100th of the deciding power.
• B) Not knowable until the outcome of the election is known.
• C) Depends on whether Diebold machines are used.

It's the day before the same election, and a fortune teller tells me Smith will win. How much will my vote count if I vote for Smith? If I vote for Jones?

• A) 1/100th of the deciding power.
• B) Depends on whether the fortune teller can also tell me where I lost my car keys.
• C) Depends on whether the fortune teller works for Diebold.

It's the day after the same election, and 55 people voted for Smith and 45 for Jones. If I voted for Smith, how much did my vote count? If I voted for Jones?

• A) 1/100th of the deciding power regardless of your vote.
• B) Any of the following:
  • B-1) 0% if I voted for Jones, 1/55th if I voted for Smith.
  • B-2) 0% unless I were the 51st person to vote for Smith on election day.
  • B-3) 0% unless my vote was the 51st one to be counted for Smith after the polls close.
• C) Depends on whether Smith knows someone who works for Diebold.

Score:

If you answered mostly A, you're an empowered, well-balanced citizen who believes in free will.

If you answered mostly B, in your heart you believe in determinism. Stories about time travel and drug-induced insanity upset you, but you'll attribute it to an over-active basil ganglia.

If you answered mostly C, you're a well-balanced citizen who believes in free will but realizes that his vote not only doesn't count, but isn't even counted.

Posted by bug to Philosophy at September 21, 2004 12:32 AM | TrackBack