Voter information
Approximately 240 million people were eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential election and roughly 66.1% of them submitted ballots, totaling about 158 million. Source
Presidential candidate who did not receive a plurality of the popular vote1. These include the 1824 election, the first U.S. presidential election where the popular vote was recorded1. Those were: 1824: John Quincy Adams; 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes; 1888, Benjamin Harrison; 2000: George W. Bush; and 2016: Donald Trump
However, let's consider elections where a candidate was elected or reelected without gaining a majority of the popular vote, often because of third-party voters. The number increased to 19 since the popular vote was first fully recorded and reported in the 1824 election.
List of presidents not receiving a majority of the votes ;
1824: John Quincy Adams1844: James K. Polk,1848: Zachary Taylor, 1856: James Buchanan,1860: Abraham Lincoln,1876: Rutherford B. Hayes, 1880: James A. Garfield, 1884: Grover Cleveland, 1888: Benjamin Harrison1892: Grover Cleveland, 1912: Woodrow Wilson1916: Woodrow Wilson1948: Harry S. Truman1960: John F. Kennedy1968: Richard Nixon1992: Bill Clinton1996: Bill Clinton2000: George W. Bush2016: Donald Trump.
The number of registered voters for the Republican Party is approximately 38.8 million, while the number of Democratic voters is reported to be around 49 million 1. However, it’s important to note that a significant number of voters identify as Independents2.
Electoral College: The Electoral College system, which tallies votes by state rather than by individual voters, can result in a candidate winning the presidency despite losing the popular vote12. This system gives more weight to citizens residing in less populated areas, putting citizens in urban areas and those states with large populations at a disadvantage2.
Senate Representation: Each state, regardless of its population size, is represented by two senators. This means that less populated states have the same representation as more populous states, which can lead to a minority of the population having a disproportionate influence12.
Filibuster: In the Senate, the filibuster is a tactic used to extend debate on a piece of legislation, effectively blocking or delaying its passage. This means that a minority can hold up legislation that has majority support3.
Gerrymandering: This is a practice where electoral district boundaries are manipulated to favor one party. By “cracking” (spreading out voters of a particular category across many districts) and “packing” (concentrating many voters of a type into a single district), a political minority can gain a majority in a large number of districts14.
Rules within Congress: Certain rules and procedures within Congress can also allow a minority to exert control. For example, in the House of Representatives, the majority party has significant control over which bills come to the floor for a vote. This can allow a minority within the majority party to block legislation1.
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Here are some rules and procedures within Congress that allow a minority to exert control:
Unlimited Debate: The Senate rules allow unlimited debate on a bill or amendment unless an extraordinary majority votes to invoke cloture1. This allows Senators, and therefore minority groups of Senators, to filibuster, delaying or preventing the Senate from even considering a bill they oppose1.
Suspension of the Rules: In the House of Representatives, under House Rule XV, clause 1, the House may suspend its own rules and regular procedures2. This parliamentary tactic allows the body to more quickly consider and vote on legislation that has broad support within the chamber2.