by Christine Whitmarsh

Created on: October 10, 2008

I look to the classic "my vote doesn't count" and the power of the electoral college versus popular vote as the most accurate answer to the question of why some people don't vote. And I look to the ways of Vegas as a solution.
Sure you'll vote for him, but will you bet on him?

The Vegas odds on the presidential election fluctuate even more than the poll numbers. At last curious check, McCain is at 3 to 1 odds win three times what you bet should team maverick win next month.

The Obama odds were 1 to 2.
You have to buy 2 to win 1. In other words there are lots of people betting on him to win even though it seems difficult to win money this way. Unless of course, you're betting on the "Obama credit card" as a friend of my family calls it, referring to the free health insurance, tax breaks for everyone, etc. Of course that quip has lost a lot of its punch with the government bailout on Republican watch of course then there's the Frank/Dodd factor of course I've digressed.

When the voters are polled, they're presumably selecting the candidate who they want to win. When people bet, I guess it would be more profitable to vote for the one who probably won't win but will make you the most money? As a Vegas virgin (yes, I live in Nevada
too; I'm funny that way), this is new and intriguing to me.

This has given me an idea for increasing voter turnout, giving people more faith in the election system, adding some value to the electoral college, and of course making things interesting. Let's collectively give the Vegas odds makers a 25% piece of each electoral vote. Since most voters seem to have come to the conclusion that the power of the popular vote is nil and the election lies in the mysterious electoral college anyway, let's toss some good old fashioned Vegas action into it. It will give the voters a more concrete (i.e. financial) stake in the election and certainly eliminate the "my vote doesn't count" argument. If you place a bet, your vote counts, and hey, you might even make a few bucks off the outcome!

Watching the election results on November 4th
will become your own personal roulette wheel. The only downside is that the already overexcited political commentators (Matthews I'm looking in your direction) may have complete breakdowns over the prospect of merging the Wall Street report with Election Night coverage.
Is it getting hot in here?

Of course to make money, the voters would have to bet against the guy they think will win in favor of the underdog (or will they? Again Vegas virgin). Somehow I don't think that will be a crisis of conscience for the average voter.
Because when it comes to money versus politics, doesn't money usually win in priority?

With my Vegas-voting method, even if your candidate loses, there's the chance you can make a few bucks off him anyway.

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