7. Voting by Land

Link to Facebook post

Link to Facebook post

We've seen that the Electoral College embodies the theory that states should have voting rights regardless of population. A curious extension of that theory was put forward by a group called "Feel the Liberty" (first image above) apparently claiming that counties, or perhaps land area, should have voting rights. The creator of this graphic smugly concludes, "This is why we have an Electoral College. Civics 101. You're welcome."

The reason that states are granted representation beyond their population is because they gave up their sovereignty to join the union, and this doesn't apply to counties, and certainly not to land -- but no matter. Nor does it seem to matter that vast areas of Alaska have no people at all.

Emma Mears responded to posts such as this one with a well-researched graphic (second image above), showing clearly that the most populous counties do not vote as a block, nor do the remaining areas. This graphic shows that there are few "red" or "blue" counties. Most are various shades of purple.

Once we realize that counties do not fall into binary categories of red or blue, we start to realize that states are the same way. The Electoral College is built on the premise that Wyoming needs extra representation because its citizens need to be heard, and they would otherwise be drowned out by the larger states. This assumes that all Wyoming citizens hold the same opinions -- which they don't. And it assumes that people in others states don't feel the same way as Wyoming -- which they do.

The right to vote should not be held by states, by counties, or by land. The right to vote belongs to the people.