Seventeen Votes Can Make the Difference
@DeborahDiane (40105)
Laguna Woods, California
October 1, 2016 1:41pm CST
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine ran for city council. When the votes were first counted, it was reported that she had lost by 16 votes. When they did the recount five days later, it turned out she had actually WON the election by 16 votes. She is now serving on the city council.
This week, Michelle Obama gave a speech in which she said that her husband had won the election in several states by only a few precincts and, in some of those precincts, he had won by only 17 votes.
She stressed that, if he had not won those precincts, he would have lost those states ... and the election ... since he would not have had enough electoral votes.
Anyone who thinks that they can vote for a third party candidate as a "protest vote" or who thinks they won't vote at all, since it doesn't matter, needs to know that as few as 17 votes in a precinct can win or lose a national election.
Seventeen votes can elect a president.
That's something to think about as you head to the polls this fall. It is important that everyone take the election seriously and vote for or against the people and issues that are important to them.
Your vote is important. 
17 people like this
13 responses
@RasmaSandra (74245)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Oct 16
I can vote from here in Latvia at the US Embassy but I have no idea who to vote for.
5 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@RasmaSandra - Let me give you a hint: ALL FIVE of the past living presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, have stated that they cannot support Donald Trump. At least four of the five (including President Bush, Sr.) have come out and said they are voting for Clinton. If the only people who have actually done the job do not believe Trump is qualified to do it, I think that tells me all I need to know. 
@RasmaSandra (74245)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane thank you for letting me know.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29386)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Oct 16
And what a travesty it would be if we ended up some whack like the Donald for that reason.
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29386)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane That is a great idea and maybe a brave one as well, since some Trumpites like to resort to the kind of attacks that he favors.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic - I'm sure I will get some negative reactions. However, people need to know how important it is to vote and Twitter is a good way to reach Millennials.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@JamesHxtatic - You are so right that it would be a travesty if we ended up with Trump because some people decided to cast a "protest vote" and others decided not to vote because their vote isn't important. I plan to promote this article on Twitter every day between now and the election.
3 people like this
@divalounger (5849)
• United States
1 Oct 16
This year, perhaps more than any other in recent history I think!
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@divalounger - I agree that this year, perhaps more than any other in recent history, it is extremely important that people vote and understand how important it is!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@skysnap - You make a good point that whoever wins this election is going to have a huge influence around the world.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Oct 16
Although I did not get to hear her speech, Michelle Obama is usually very good at keeping important points across to her audience.
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
17 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Her speech was amazing and it wasn't what you'd call "partisan". I'd love to have the chance to vote for her one day. I think she'd win in a landslide.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Wouldn't wish it on anyone! Can't figure out why someone would want to be involved in all of that mess-
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Oct 16
@PatZAnthony - She is a very talented speaker. Who knows? In another decade, perhaps she will be running for president. Wouldn't that be amazing ... to have another former First Lady run for president?
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40657)
• United States
1 Oct 16
Great post! When we don't vote, we're actually voting for the candidate we don't want to win.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@1creekgirl - You are absolutely right. We we don't vote, we are voting for the person we don't want. This year, when the differences are so clear, it is more important than ever to vote.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
22 Oct 16
Some of you reading this are probably too young to remember the 2000 election which resulted in the "Bush V Gore" Supreme Court decision. Once all the dust had settled the official count in Florida was George W. Bush by 537 votes which gave him the states electoral votes and therefore the election despite the fact that Al Gore had won the popular vote nationally. So many crazy things contributed to that debacle in Florida including punch card ballots that didn't line up properly, allegedly resulting in over 3000 votes going to Pat Buchanan that were intended for Gore in a predominantly Jewish county after Buchanan had written and said some blatantly anti-Semitic things. However, one unfortunate fact overshadows all else, in my opinion, and that's the candidacy of Green Party candidate Ralph Nader who got over 20,000 votes in Florida. It's a pretty safe bet that far more of those votes would have gone to Gore than to Bush if these voters hadn't wanted to cast a protest vote to make a statement.
PLEASE people, don't choose this year to make that kind of statement. EVERY vote counts and a vote for Johnson or Stein is the exact same thing as a vote for Donald Trump. Our next President WILL be Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, that is certain. Let's all use our precious right to vote to choose which one of them we want representing us for the next 4 or maybe 8 years!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Oct 16
Well said! I appreciate your comment here and I hope that young people, in particular, read it.
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Oct 16
@Hatley - An unusually large number of people are voting for third party candidates this year. Some people believe that Trump has done so much damage to the Republican Party that it has opened up the possibility that a third party could take its place.
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Oct 16
@moondebi - You make a good point that even four or five votes can entirely change an election. We are lucky to live in democracies and everyone should take advantage of their right to vote.
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@jstory07 - I agree! Every single vote is important. I always vote, too ... not just for presidential elections, but for local elections, too.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Oct 16
@Juliaacv - Your father's situation is the perfect example of how close elections can be and why every single vote counts! Thanks for sharing his story.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
2 Oct 16
i'm glad yer friend actually won, e'en if by such a small margin. i shan't give my views'n what mrs. obama said... i wish that peter pan was runnin', the choice'd not be so diff'cult then :)
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
3 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane i agree with supportin' one with the goals i've got - jest seems that nobody like that runs fer president :)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Oct 16
@crazyhorseladycx - I think a lot of people feel like you do ... that it is hard to find candidates who share their values. We voters just have to do the best we can do.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@crazyhorseladycx - I have trouble understanding why this is such a difficult choice for some people, since the candidates are clearly very different and I believe that most people should be able to support one or the other. Personally, I am very comfortable with my decision. My candidate supports my values and goals for this country. While she is not perfect, I haven't found that any Saints ever run for president, so I have to choose the candidate that I think is most likely to support the same goals I have.
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
4 Oct 16
Then again, 17 votes, or 1 vote can be wasted even if a person is voting for a main party candidate. I refer you to all the votes cast by Democrats who live in a Red state.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
4 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Oh indeed, I'll be voting on local candidates and issues.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Oct 16
@blitzfrick - We have so much stuff to vote on here in California, our voter's guide is 240 pages long! It's going to be like reading a novel!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40105)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Oct 16
@blitzfrick - Yes, it is possible to feel as if you are throwing your vote away when you know the person you are voting for will not do well in that state. However, the elections in many states are close enough that turnout becomes important. If the "ruling" party becomes complacent, the other party could flip a state. That still makes voting worthwhile. In addition, most states have other issues that will be voted on, as well. You made an excellent point though, which is why many people would like to do away with the electoral college and go to direct vote ... where every vote in every state would count.
3 people like this
