Why should Americans vote in the Presidential elections?

[The_Brigadier]

If the electoral college decides who's going to be president of the United States, should I even bother casting a vote for the presidential elections of 2012? What's the point of the whole "election" if the choice of the people doesn't matter?

[Current]

Because, while it's technically possible for electors to choose any candidate, in general the result of the election corresponds to the popular vote. It's simply not true that the choice of the people doesn't matter, it just matters less than in a direct election. Voting for a candidate does make it more likely for that candidate to win. This is not an argument in favour of the Electoral College, mind you, only an argument in favour of voting.

Disclaimer, I am not American.

[The_Brigadier]

Sometimes I wonder. In the 2004 elections, former-president Bush did not win the popular vote but he still became president.

[Current]

So? The argument is probabilistic, not absolute. I'm not saying that in every situation, the Electoral College's decision will match the popular vote. I am saying that the more votes a candidate has, the more likely it is for that candidate to become president, and that's why you should vote.

[The_Brigadier]

It still makes me sad that the Electoral College is still around. It's like the American government doesn't trust its own people...

[Current]

No argument there. I don't like the Electoral College system in general.

[TF.]

It's about time that someone referred to the choice of a giant d****e and a turd sandwich from South Park.

[SamilinCorrathGahar]

<What it comes down to is that the area is divided into smaller sections.>
<The more people in a small section vote one way the more likely their Representative is to vote that same way.>