District of Columbia Question

[umtalal]

Can someone explain to me how many votes they have ( I believe three) and what that signifies?

[Virginian]

1. Everywhere else

The electoral votes are based on the total number of senators and congressmen from that state. DC is not a state. It does not have senators or congressmen who can vote in congress. Because of this, they are not really represented in the Legislative Branch at all.
It wasn't until the voting rights act that the people of DC could even vote for president.
I am not sure what the population of DC is, but I believe it may be larger than Wyoming.

[umtalal]

3. do they 3 votes for something?

[onenote]

2. imaginary representatives

I believe that each state is allotted electoral votes based on the number of senators and congressman representing the state. Although DC doesn't have senators, it is allotted the minimum number (two senators and one congressman).

onenote

[umtalal]

4. Thanks that was helpful.

[aldian159]

5. DC should be a state

Ignoring the fact it has more people than WY, VT, and AK, it will give us two easy Democratic Senators

[liberalpragmatist]

6. Yeah, that's an argument that would work well

It should be a state. And pushing for it simply because it would be two more Dem senators is the least important reason to push.

Incidentally, if DC is a state, it should use an all-party open primary with IRV to elect its senators. That would make it more competitive, given the overwhelming Dem/liberal majority there.

[spooky3]

7. This was true in 1990 but in 2000 it beats only WY.

http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/phc-t2.html

see state table 01

One reason that it is losing population is that some people do not want to live where they have no senator or Rep with power; they can easily live in MD or VA instead, so that's where they live. However, I suspect that it has regained population since 2000 because people were hopeful that Mayor Williams would do well. Evidence: housing prices have gone up even more rapidly in the District than just outside.

[NewJerseyDem]

8. It got those 3 EV's from the 23rd Amendment

They get as many as they would if they were as state but they cannot have more than any other state. So, that leaves them with 3.

[GreenInNC]

9. Good articles on DC statehood

http://prorev.com/dcsthdintro.htm