Pennsylvania is a swing state, but what does that mean?
According to one definition, it is a state that “plays a key role in the outcome of presidential elections.” It is one of a few key states usually decided by narrow margins. In fact, in 2020, Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral college votes put President Joe Biden over the 270-vote mark needed to win.
In 2024, Pennsylvania is worth 19 electoral college votes, making it the sixth-most-valuable state in terms of electoral college power. The 19 votes Pennsylvanians control are crucial to victory for both candidates, as 19 is the most votes of any swing state.
Growing up in New York, I never saw many political ads. It was almost a certainty that the state (or at least my area) would vote for the Democratic nominee in November.
In Pennsylvania, it is impossible to avoid advertisements, from looking through the mail to watching an Eagles game. The back-and-forth of candidates suffocates you.
The Electoral College was designed to enfranchise underrepresented areas of the nation, overlooked by a popular vote.
According to the Pew Research Center, more than six in ten Americans favor moving away from the electoral college. This discussion has gained more attention, as in two of the past five presidential elections, the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the election.
In 2020, President Biden won the popular vote with more than seven million votes but only won elections by margins as small as 50,000 votes in crucial swing states.
This is why Pennsylvania is so important.
While every person gets the same vote, it does not have the same impact.
Democracy functions as participation, but when an election comes down to the votes of a certain few based on where they live, many begin to question the system.
Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes were won by fewer than 82,000 votes in the last election. Shockingly, fewer than two out of three eligible citizens voted in 2020. This is why candidates are eager to convince people to vote and, more importantly, vote for them in states like Pennsylvania.
Right now, the margin of the 2024 Pennsylvania election polls is half a percent in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Furthermore, out of 100 election simulations of Pennsylvania, both candidates won the state over 45 times. The national polls are so tight that it is very likely the election will come down to the result in Pennsylvania.
Democracy functions as participation, but when an election comes down to the votes of a certain few based on where they live, many begin to question the system.
Still, the Electoral College is here to stay for 2024, and the election outcome could come down to Pennsylvania voters.