Interview With Richard Lim (Part 1)
Knowing about presidential politics in the United States requires knowing about the Electoral College. What is it? Why do we have it? How does it work? How does it impact the weight of your vote? How does it impact candidates’ campaigning strategies—and why does that matter? Richard Lim, historian and host of the podcast This American President, joins Know Why to answer all these questions and more!
What is the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is a representative body like the Senate or the House of Representatives. Citizens don’t vote directly on federal laws but elect representatives to vote on laws for us. Similarly, the Electoral College consists of electors who vote for U.S. President based on the votes of the people they represent. Richard tells listeners to pay attention to their ballot this November. You’ll notice that you aren’t technically voting for your preferred presidential candidate, but rather for electors who will cast that vote for you later.
richard Lim
“Which system protects the rights of as many people as possible? That’s what you have to consider.”
Why Does the Electoral College Matter Today?
Many people today believe the Electoral College should be abolished in favor of a popular vote. Richard explains that the Founders created the Electoral College to protect the rights of states with smaller populations. Richard told Know Why this helps bring balance to presidential races. Candidates are motivated to spend time talking with a wider variety of people than their main voter base. This makes candidates more attune to the entire nation. With the Electoral College, the presidential race becomes about more than getting the most votes (even though winning the Electoral College without winning the popular vote is rare); it becomes about which candidate can understand and connect with the broadest range of Americans.
Listen to the full episode for more—including interesting facts about past presidential elections and the Electoral College, why the Electoral College makes recounts much easier, and how it can positively impact the power of your vote. Be sure to check back next week for Part 2 of Richard’s interview.
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