Voting Choice for Progressives This Year

[Charlie Montgomery]

Greetings,

 

Many who would like to see our country move in a more progressive direction are disappointed with the candidates offered by the two major parties.  We are urged to vote for an unpalatable Democrat instead of an alternative that represents our views to prevent a completely repulsive Republican from getting into office. This is the lesser of two evils dilemma and creates a principle vs. pragmatism conflict in most of us.

 

This tension can be resolved by considering how the voting process actually works.

 

We voters do not elect the president directly. Instead we vote for a slate of electors that are pledged to a candidate.  Oregon is winner take all state meaning that all seven electors we send will be pledged to the candidate who wins the popular vote and they will vote for that person when the electoral college meets. There is no proportional vote of electors.

 

 

Oregon is a Blue state. It has voted consistently Democratic in Presidential elections since 1992.

 

Here, from fivethirtyeight.com, is the prediction for Oregon this year:

 

 

 

 

How you vote this year will likely have no effect at all on the presidential choice. Barring any major changes in the election picture Oregon will send seven electors pledged to the Democratic candidate to the electoral college.

 

Don’t fall victim to the establishment fear mongering of being a spoiler. Vote for a person that will advance what you believe in with a clear conscience, but check the polls before you do.

 

Charlie Montgomery