Approximately 240 million Americans are set to make pivotal decisions on November 5th as they participate in the country’s 60th quadrennial presidential election. Alongside choosing the next president and vice president, voters will select one-third of the U.S. Senate, all 435 House representatives, and numerous state and local officials, including 11 governors. This significant democratic event showcases not only the importance of voter participation in the U.S., but also highlights intriguing contrasts with other democracies, such as the Philippines, in how they structure and execute elections.
While the U.S. and Philippine elections both embody democratic principles, they differ significantly in structure and execution.
Elections in the Philippines and the U.S. also determine representation in legislative bodies, but the processes vary. In the U.S., each of the 100 senators represents an entire state for a six-year term, with one-third of the Senate seats up for election every two years. Meanwhile, the 435 representatives serve two-year terms and represent districts proportional to state populations.
In the Philippines, senators are elected nationally and serve six-year terms, with half of the 24 Senate seats up for election every three years. Members of the Philippine House of Representatives serve as either district representatives or party-list members.
The nomination process for presidential candidates also diverges between the two countries. In the Philippines, political parties select nominees internally based on popularity and leadership decisions. In contrast, the U.S. employs a two-party primary system where members of the Democratic and Republican parties vote directly for their preferred candidate in state primaries and caucuses.
The candidate with the most delegates from each party’s state-by-state contests secures the nomination at the party’s national convention, giving the public direct involvement in candidate selection.
Voting methods also vary. Voting in the Philippines is primarily done in person on Election Day, with absentee voting available for Filipinos abroad. In the U.S., however, voters have multiple options: in-person voting on Election Day, early voting, and mail-in voting. Mail-in voting, which grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, allows voters to fill out their ballots at home and return them by mail or drop-off.
The U.S. Electoral College adds another layer of difference. In the Philippines, the presidential candidate with the most votes wins directly. In the U.S., however, each state is assigned several electoral votes based on population, totaling 538. A candidate must then win at least 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency.
Most states follow a “winner-takes-all” rule, awarding all electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes in that state. This can emphasize “swing states” like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where voter support is not consistently aligned with either party. Notably, the Electoral College has led to instances where a candidate won the presidency despite losing the popular vote, as seen in the 2000 and 2016 elections.
While both countries value democratic choice, the U.S. system balances regional representation through the Electoral College and diverse voting options, while the Philippines’ direct vote system emphasizes broader voter choice across multiple candidates.
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