The President of the United States, the leader of the free nation, the Emperor of the New World, the Star fleet Commander and Chief, etc etc Who do you gotta #$% around here to get that job?
When I first posed this question to myself the answer seemed so complicated. The President is elected by the people, sort of. The President is actually elected by an electoral vote, an electoral vote is cast by a person who is elected to vote for the people he/she represents, sort of. Currently only 132 of our 538 electoral votes are by law mandated to represent the popular vote in any given area. That sounds scary. And so does this:
256 votes are cast with no legal requirement to support the popular vote!!!!
 |
psst it's okay. I looked back at the last ten voting years and there
have been very few occurrences of an electoral vote being cast against a popular vote. And when it has happened it's sort of been complicated and I'm not going to get into it. You'll just have to trust me that 60% of the time the electoral vote is dictated by the popular vote all of the time, sort of. |
It takes 270 electoral votes to become the President of the United States. This is actually where it gets complicated for me to try to create a picture of the American who is representative of the people who are truly electing our President, sort of. Do I start narrowing down the characteristics of the folks who hale from the states with the most electoral votes (voting power)
OR the folks who hale from the swing states? Also known as States who's votes are still undecided. OR shall I attempt both? I guess this blog could always have a part two or as I shall refer to it "Part the More".
Let's just look at the folks with the big cajones aka "votes" in order of greatest to smallest:
(D)California - Today's top story: USC Student chased robber before he was shot by security.
With a population of just over 37 million people in 2010 this state is swinging around
55 votes 63% of the population is between the ages of 18 and 65, 50/50 male to female ratio, and 57.6% white (40% white not Hispanic), 80% graduated from High school, and 30% obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher (which is slightly higher than the National average of 28%). Average IQ 96. With a median household income of $60,883.00. Best know for Hollywood. Overall not bad California, but when I googled "Californian" to locate an image I came up with this:
 |
| Which is interesting because that's kind of how I remember California too. |
(R)Texas - Today's Top Story: Growth prospects for Uranium stir concerns.
A Median household income of $49,646, a population of just above 25 million folks in 2010 spread out over 261,231 square miles, 62% of the population is between 18 and 65, 70% of the population is white (45.3% white not Hispanic), 50/50 male to female, Average IQ 100. 80% graduated from High school and 25% obtained a Bachelors or higher degree. Clearly not the most educated state but still waving about an impressive
38 votes. Texas is best know for the Alamo and all things cowboy.
 |
| HOT! |
Florida and New York tie for third so let's break it down alphabetically
(?)Florida - Today's Top Story: Murder Charge in Trayvon Martin's death.
29 votes 18+ million people. 61% between 18 and 65. 50/50 male to female and 75% white (58% white not Hispanic) according to the 2010 census.... really? Interesting, I know a lot of Floridians and not one is white. (But most of them I would let Salsa right in to my pants!!) ahem......85% graduated from High school and 26% obtained a bachelors degree or higher. Average IQ 98.
 |
| let me guess, first day of retirement? |
(D)New York - Today's Top Story: Stabbed Cop expected to recover.
29 votes 19+ million people sharing 47,126 square miles. Surprisingly a median household income of $55,603, with the cost of living being so exaggerated in this state I always assumed the median income was much higher.... 65% of this population is between 18 and 65, 66% white (58% white not Hispanic) 52% female, 84.4% graduated from High school and 32% obtained a Bachelors degree or higher. Average IQ 101.
 |
| Pretty much sums it up |
Illinois and Pennsylvania are equal as well...
(D)Illinois - Today's Top Story: One CWLP worker fired, two disciplined in tree trimming case. 12,830,632 people grant this state enough representation to garner
20 votes. 63% between 18 and 65, 50/50 male to female, 71.5% white (63.7% white not Hispanic) 86% are High school graduates and 30% with a Bachelors degree or higher. A median income of $55,735 which is slightly above the national average. Average IQ 100.
 |
| the states longest running festival is a celebration of milk |
(?)Pennsylvania - As much as I would like to now delve into tales of vampires, my childhood confusion has long been cleared up.... Today's Top story: 24 year old Sara Ganim wins Pulitzer prize. (best know for reporting of alleged sexual abuse by an x-Penn State football coach).
20 votes for 12,702,379 people. 63% between 18 and 65, 52% female, 82% white (80% white not Hispanic), with a median income of $50,398 87% graduated from High school and 26.5% went further to earn a Bachelors degree or higher. Average IQ 102.
 |
| I hope that's her cow - he's giving the camera the "help me" look |
last and in this particular grouping quite literally least
(?)Ohio - Today's Top story Ohio executes man who fatally stabbed teen.
11.5 million people,
18 votes, 62% between 18 and 65, 52% female, 83% white (82% white not Hispanic) 87.4% High school graduate, 24% with a bachelors degree or higher, median income of $47,358. A whole 40,860 square miles of these folks. 50/50 male to female ratio. Average IQ 102.
 |
| I chose this image because when I first saw it I thought she was holding a gigantic piece of pie |
So let's combine what we have learned, on average the bulk of the collective voting power is white, middle aged, somewhat violent, slightly corrupt, overindulgent, yet industrious with a penchant for participating in bizarre activities. Little bit cowboy and a little bit rock'n'roll. The bizarres of Hollywood mixed with fast pace of NY. The at times puzzling lifestyle of the Amish but sweaty like Florida............
 |
| I just need a moment to sketch this............ |
 |
| oh #$%! me |
The good news is this doesn't really answer the question "who elects the President." Even if all of these votes were cast for the same candidate it's not enough. In addition to that, many states vote for a party as opposed to a candidate and have voted that way for so long that it's a given who the electoral votes will be cast for long before the election. As it sits now for 2012 there are seven swing states, and arguably those states more than any other will be the deciding factor in the upcoming election. I have a sneaky suspicion that it will boil down to religious extremists deciding the lesser of two evils: A Christian who might be a Muslim or a Christian who might be a cult member.
