What is Popular Vote?

Definition and meaning of popular vote: The popular vote is a method of selecting political representatives where the choice rests directly in the hands of the citizens. It embodies the principle that the electorate should have the ultimate say in who represents their interests in government.

In the United States, the popular vote is used to decide many local and state-level elections, while the Electoral College is used to determine the outcome of presidential elections. The winner of the Electoral College is not always the same as the winner of the popular vote. For example, in the 2016 general election, Donald Trump became president even though his main opponent Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. Donald Trump earned 45.9% of the popular vote, while Hillary Clinton came away with 48% of the popular vote.

There is ongoing debate about whether American presidential elections should be decided by the popular vote. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is one example of a movement to let the popular vote determine the outcome of presidential elections. Supporters of using the popular vote argue that it better reflects the will of the people.

Outside of the United States, many countries use the popular vote to elect national leaders. Here are a few examples:

• France: France uses a direct popular vote in a two-round electoral system to elect its president.

• Mexico: Mexico elects its president through a direct popular vote.

• South Korea: South Korea uses the popular vote to elect its president for a single five-year term.

Note that like France, many countries around the world that use the popular vote to elect national leaders also use a two-round voting system.