A Reuters Institute’s 2023 Digital News Report highlights a rising trend of “news avoidance” among younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials. News avoidance is particularly apparent during the 2024 elections amongst these demographics. Yet both presidential candidates are clamoring to get their votes.

The reason why these generations avoid mainstream news is because they feel the narratives are designed to induce negative emotions, creating a greater distrust in media. There is also a feeling overwhelm caused by the news. On top of the surmounting problem of negative narratives in the news, not balanced with a serving of solution-based stories, we are left wondering if anyone cares about our demographic at all. 

One thing is apparent though, during the time of a presidential election, suddenly the older generations care about the younger generations’ vote; the ones that will inherit a country that the older generations are so royally f*cking up.

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Summary (If You’re Short On Time)

• The Reuters Institute's 2023 Digital News Report highlights a rising trend of “news avoidance” among younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials, during the 2024 elections due to negative narratives and distrust in media.

• The electoral college system in the United States has been criticized for its lack of transparency, potential to distort the popular vote, and unequal representation. Countries such as Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand use the popular vote as the sole method of electing their leaders with little to no suspicion of corruption.

• Phasing out the electoral college and moving towards a more direct election system can increase transparency, reduce the potential for distortion, and make the political process more accessible and understandable to younger voters.

• Creating a third party that represents the largest voting demographic, Millennials and Gen Z, can be a “shining example” of how people from different sides of the political spectrum can come together and address the Top 5 problems Americans care about.

• One potential solution to promote transparency in the news is to have open dialogue about the election process itself. This is the season for it. Another consideration is creating a third party, one that can represent the largest voting demographic in the country – ironically made up of the millennial and Gen Z demographics.

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As the 2024 elections approach, it is crucial to find ways to increase transparency and engage these demographics in the political process. As a society we need to make the political process more understandable for the general public and more accessible to younger demographics that should have a greater say on how older generations are running our country; and ultimately effecting our world. Not for the better.

A good Step 1, from many commenters’ point-of-view on PulseDNA social media, is to phase out the electoral college and move towards a more direct election system.

The Problems with the Electoral College – U.S. and Abroad

The electoral college system, established by the U.S. Constitution, has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential to distort the popular vote. In recent elections, the electoral college has produced results that do not align with the popular vote, leading to concerns about the system’s fairness and legitimacy. Additionally, the electoral college system can lead to unequal representation, as votes in certain states carry more weight than others.

The electoral college system in the United States is not the only electoral system that has faced criticism and controversy. In some countries, the electoral system has failed to accurately represent the will of the people, leading to protests, reforms, and in some cases, regime change.

One example is the 2006 presidential election in Mexico, where the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate, Felipe Calderon, won the presidency with a narrow margin of 0.58% over leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The election was marred by allegations of fraud and irregularities, leading to widespread protests and calls for a recount. Although the Federal Electoral Tribunal ultimately upheld Calderon's victory, the controversy surrounding the election led to a decline in public trust in the electoral system and the PRI party.

In Italy, the electoral system has been criticized for its complexity and lack of proportionality. In 2013, the country held its fourth election in 10 years, with no clear winner emerging. The fragmented political landscape and the electoral system's failure to produce a stable government led to calls for reform. In 2015, a new electoral law was passed, introducing a mixed-member proportional system that aimed to reduce fragmentation and promote stability.

In Canada, the first-past-the-post electoral system has been criticized for producing disproportionate results and leaving some regions underrepresented. In the 2011 federal election, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won 30.6% of the popular vote but only 19.7% of the seats in the House of Commons. In response to these concerns, several provinces have adopted proportional representation systems, including British Columbia, which held a referendum on the issue in 2018.

Proposals That Have Been Made to Change the Electoral College Process

Over the past 200 years, more than 700 proposals have been introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate the Electoral College, with public opinion polls showing Americans favoring abolishing it by majorities of up to 81 percent. However, opinions on the viability of the Electoral College system may be affected by attitudes toward third parties, as they have not fared well in this system. The last third party candidate to make a strong showing was Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, while more recent candidates such as Ross Perot and Gary Johnson failed to win any electoral votes. 

Despite a candidate who wins the popular vote having a good chance of winning in the Electoral College, there are no guarantees, as evidenced by the results of several elections in history. The Electoral College system has been criticized as “archaic” and “ambiguous” by the American Bar Association, with 69 percent of lawyers favoring its abolition in 1987. Surveys of political scientists, however, have supported the continuation of the Electoral College. Third parties have struggled in this system, with regional candidates such as Governor Thurmond in 1948 and Governor Wallace in 1968 winning electoral votes but not coming close to challenging the major party winner. 

The last third party candidate to make a significant showing was Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, while more recent candidates such as Ross Perot and Gary Johnson failed to win any electoral votes. The Electoral College system has been a topic of debate for over 200 years, with more Constitutional amendment proposals introduced on this subject than any other. Public opinion polls have shown that Americans favor abolishing the Electoral College by majorities of up to 81 percent. 

Third parties have not fared well in this system, with regional candidates such as Governor Thurmond in 1948 and Governor Wallace in 1968 winning electoral votes but not coming close to challenging the major party winner. Despite a candidate who wins the popular vote having a good chance of winning in the Electoral College, there are no guarantees, as evidenced by the results of several elections in history.

Countries Where The Popular Vote Works

Many countries around the world use the popular vote as the sole method of electing their leaders, with little to no suspicion of corruption. One example is Germany, which has used the popular vote for its federal elections since the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949.

In Germany, the federal election is held every four years to elect members of the Bundestag, the federal legislative body. The chancellor, who serves as the head of government, is then elected by the Bundestag. The German electoral system is based on proportional representation, with each voter casting two votes: one for a candidate in their electoral district and one for a political party. This system ensures that the allocation of seats in the Bundestag reflects the popular vote, with parties receiving at least 5% of the votes guaranteed representation.

The use of the popular vote in Germany has led to a high degree of transparency and legitimacy in the electoral process. The federal election is closely monitored by a variety of organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has consistently praised the conduct of the elections. The German electoral system has also been praised for its ability to promote stability and inclusivity, with a wide range of political parties and viewpoints represented in the Bundestag.

Another example of a country that uses the popular vote as the sole method of electing its leaders is Sweden. Like Germany, Sweden has a multi-party system based on proportional representation. The country holds general elections every four years to elect members of the Riksdag, the national legislative body. The prime minister, who serves as the head of government, is then elected by the Riksdag.

Sweden's electoral system has also been praised for its transparency and legitimacy. The country has a long tradition of democratic governance and has consistently ranked high in international measures of democratic performance and transparency. The use of the popular vote in Sweden has helped to promote a high degree of public trust in the electoral process and has contributed to the country's stability and prosperity.

Phasing Out the Electoral College

There are several ways to phase out the electoral college and move towards a more direct election system. One option is to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), an agreement among states to award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes nationwide. This approach would ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide becomes president, without requiring a constitutional amendment.

Another option is to pursue a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college and move towards a direct election system. This approach would require support from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. While more difficult to achieve, a constitutional amendment would provide a more permanent solution to the problems with the electoral college.

Encouraging elected officials to support a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college and move towards a direct election system can be challenging, as it requires a significant amount of political will and cooperation. However, local citizens can take several steps to incentivize their elected officials to support such a change:

1. Build a strong coalition: Citizens can work together to form a coalition of individuals, organizations, and interest groups who support the abolition of the electoral college. This coalition can help to amplify the voices of those who support a direct election system and demonstrate to elected officials that there is a significant amount of public support for such a change.
2. Engage with elected officials: Citizens can engage with their elected officials through town hall meetings, letters, emails, and phone calls to express their support for a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college. By building relationships with elected officials and making their voices heard, citizens can help to create a sense of accountability and ensure that their representatives are aware of their constituents' views.
3. Educate the public: Citizens can work to educate the public about the problems with the electoral college and the benefits of a direct election system. By building public awareness and understanding of the issues, citizens can help to create a groundswell of support for change and increase the pressure on elected officials to take action.
4. Support candidates who support reform: Citizens can support candidates for elected office who have expressed their support for abolishing the electoral college and moving towards a direct election system. By supporting candidates who share their views, citizens can help to build a stronger coalition of reform-minded officials and increase the likelihood of success.
5. Leverage social media: Social media can be a powerful tool for building support for political reforms. Citizens can use social media to share information about the problems with the electoral college, build support for a direct election system, and engage with elected officials and other stakeholders.
6. Collaborate with other states: Citizens can work with elected officials and advocacy organizations in other states to build support for a constitutional amendment. By collaborating across state lines, citizens can help to create a critical mass of support and increase the likelihood of success.

While a 7-step process may seem, on paper, easy-breezy, it will clearly take a lot of inertia and drive to get a nation-wide movement like this going. The next biggest movement that PulseDNA would suggest, based on thousands of comments we gathered throughout social media channels, is the creation of a third-party, a “middle way” as Pope Francis has put it. 

The creation of a third party, started “By The People” could be the shining example on how people from two side of the of the political spectrum to come together and hold an “open call” for a candidate that cares about the Top 5 problems Americans care about. This presidential candidate has to care enough and be willing to do something to give the people what they want. 

In a previous article, we wrote about the Top 5 issues that Americans care about. This was based on data that we pulled from Pew Research and Gallop poll surveys. The most trusted research and survey institutes in the country. We’re addressing them here for convenience.

The Top 5 Problems Americans Care About 

1. Economy and Government (Pew/Gallop)
2. Education and Economy (Pew/Gallop)
3. Healthcare and Immigration (Pew/Gallop) 
4. Terrorism and Unemployment (Pew/Gallop) 
5. Social Security and Racism (Pew/Gallop) 

Based on the Above, let’s do a quick “snapshot” on how our current democratic and republican candidates, Trump and Harris, are doing on addressing the above issues. We’re sticking to the Top 3.

Government: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have both made promises related to government transparency, but their approaches and follow-through have been quite different.

Kamala Harris has been a strong advocate for government transparency throughout her career. As a senator, she introduced the Freedom from Government Surveillance Act, which aimed to protect Americans' privacy rights by limiting the government's ability to collect and use their personal data. She has also been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's lack of transparency, particularly around issues related to immigration and law enforcement.

Harris has also emphasized the importance of transparency in her own campaign, releasing her tax returns and calling on other candidates to do the same. She has also pledged to strengthen whistleblower protections, increase funding for investigative journalism, and ensure that government agencies are more responsive to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

In contrast, Donald Trump made many promises related to government transparency, but his follow-through has been mixed. During his 2016 campaign, he pledged to “drain the swamp” and make government more accountable to the people. He also promised to release his tax returns and support stronger whistleblower protections.

However, Trump has been criticized for his lack of transparency during his time in office. He has not released his tax returns, despite repeated calls to do so. He has also rolled back some of the transparency requirements put in place by the Obama administration, such as limits on lobbying by former government officials.

Trump has also been criticized for his handling of FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, with his administration slow to respond to requests and sometimes withholding information without proper justification. Additionally, his administration has faced numerous allegations of ethical violations and conflicts of interest, further eroding trust in government.

Examples of Follow-Through on Government Transparency Promises:

Kamala Harris: As a senator, Harris introduced the Freedom from Government Surveillance Act, which aimed to protect Americans' privacy rights. She has also released her tax returns and pledged to strengthen whistleblower protections.

Donald Trump: During his 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to “drain the swamp” and make government more accountable to the people. He also promised to release his tax returns and support stronger whistleblower protections. However, he has not followed through on many of these promises, and his administration has faced numerous allegations of ethical violations and conflicts of interest.

Education and Economy: While both candidates have touched on these issues, historically, they have not engaged in a substantive debate about how to improve education and promote economic growth. Trump has focused on his plans to cut taxes and reduce regulations, while Kamala has emphasized the need for investments in education, infrastructure, and clean energy. However, they have not provided a detailed plan for addressing the challenges facing the education system or the economy.

Healthcare and Immigration: Both candidates have addressed these issues, but they have not engaged in a substantive debate about how to reform the healthcare system or address immigration. Trump has focused on his plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and build a wall along the southern border, while Kamala has emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, critiqued Trump for blocking a Bill that would strengthen the border, and expanding access to affordable healthcare. 

However, neither party has provided a detailed plan for addressing the above challenges. The most detailed plan, out of the two, is Trump’s Project 2025, branded as “Agenda 47” on his official campaign website. How the Republican Party will ever rebound from such a fascist plan – IF they will ever rebound – only time will tell.

Say We Throw “A Party,” What Would That Third Party Look Like and How?

To say that the PulseDNA team would know what a third party would look like specifically in this country would be akin to shaking a crystal ball. So to look forward in imaging with the “art of possible” as a part of our collective utility belt to craft a better democracy, we look at the most recent historical examples where a third part could actually emerge and become a contender amongst other political parties.

In France a new political party emerged and won the elections. The notable success is attributed to Emmanuel Macron's La République En Marche! (LREM) party in the 2017 French presidential and legislative elections. Macron, a former investment banker and economy minister, founded LREM in 2016 as a centrist, pro-European Union party. The party's platform focused on economic reform, reducing unemployment, and strengthening the EU.

In the 2017 presidential election, Macron won the first round with 24% of the votes and went on to defeat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round with 66% of the votes. Following his election, LREM won a landslide victory in the legislative elections, securing a majority in the National Assembly.

While LREM was not created “in a matter of weeks” during the election, its success is still notable as a new party that emerged, in about a year, and won a major election.

Here are some examples of new parties that have emerged quickly and made significant gains in elections, although they may not have won outright:

Italy – Five Star Movement: In 2009, the Five Star Movement (M5S) was founded in Italy by comedian Beppe Grillo and political activist Gianroberto Casaleggio. The party quickly gained popularity through its use of social media and its anti-establishment message. In the 2013 general election, M5S won over 25% of the vote, becoming the largest party in the Italian Parliament.

Spain – Podemos: In 2014, Podemos was founded in Spain by political scientist Pablo Iglesias and a group of academics and activists. The party emerged from the Indignados movement, which had been protesting against austerity and political corruption in Spain. In the 2015 general election, Podemos won over 20% of the votes, becoming the third-largest party in the Spanish Parliament.

Czech Republic – ANO 2011: In 2011, ANO 2011 was founded in the Czech Republic by billionaire Andrej Babiš. The party was initially focused on fighting corruption and reducing bureaucracy. In the 2013 general election, ANO 2011 won over 18% of the votes, becoming the second-largest party in the Czech Parliament.Transparency and Engagement

Phasing out the electoral college is not just about fairness and representation; it is also about increasing transparency and engagement in the political process. Younger generations, in particular, are looking for more transparency and accountability in government. By moving towards a more direct election system, we can increase transparency, reduce the potential for distortion, and make the political process more accessible and understandable to younger voters.

Additionally, phasing out the electoral college can help address the problem of news avoidance among younger generations. By making the election process more transparent and accessible, we can reduce the negative emotions and distrust that drive news avoidance and increase engagement in the political process.

The abolition of the electoral college, coupled with the creation of a solid third party could be just the ticket to disrupt the “status quo” and show our government that it is our citizens that are the heart, blood, sweat and tears that truly make America great.

Conclusion

Phasing out the electoral college and moving towards a more direct election system is an important step towards increasing transparency and engagement in the political process. By promising a more clear and transparent election, while addressing the need for a third party, we will gain back the trust of the younger generations; the largest voting demographic in America.

We’re pretty sure we heard this from a movie once, and think it is the perfect closing quote for this article. “There is no JUSTICE. There is JUST US.” Will you be part of the change you want to see in the world?

We can help ensure that the 2024 elections are fair, legitimate, and accessible to all voters. Now, finding the right WE to make it happen, that is another story.

Sources:

“Global Trends in News Avoidance.” Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023/global-trends-news-avoidance

“U.S. News Avoidance Surges in 2022, Driven by Negative Emotions, Distrust in Media, and Perceived Lack of Relevance.” Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/390161/news-avoidance-surges-2022-driven-negative-emotions.aspx

“National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.” National Popular Vote. https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/

“Abolishing the Electoral College.” National Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendment/amendment-xii

“Mexico's 2006 Presidential Election.” Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/mexicos-2006-presidential-election

“Italy's Electoral System: A Brief Overview.” Italianist. https://www.italianist.com/italys-electoral-system-a-brief-overview/

“Canada's Electoral System: First Past the Post.” Samara Canada. https://www.samaracanada.com/civic-democracy-monitor/canadas-electoral-system-first-past-the-post/

“Kamala Harris's Record on Transparency and Accountability.” Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2019/02/01/465761/kamala-harriss-record-transparency-accountability/

“Donald Trump's Promises, 100 Days In.” Politico. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/trump-promises-100-days-in-237063

“Trump's Transparency Promises Haven't Come True.” The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/trumps-transparency-promises-havent-come-true/522156/

“Trump's Conflicts of Interest, Quantified.” ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/trumplist

“Italy's Five Star Movement: A Populist Phenomenon.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21780166

“Podemos: The Rise of Spain's New Left-Wing Party.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30725894

“ANO 2011: Andrej Babiš's Populist Party Wins Czech Election.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42118494

“New Political Parties: How They Emerge, Develop and Sometimes Succeed.” The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/new-political-parties-how-they-emerge-develop-and-sometimes-succeed-83848

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