How the World Votes…And What the U.S. Can Learn From It
Do you believe your vote is counted the same way as in other democracies? The answer may surprise you.
When you go to the ballot box (the place where you vote) in the United States, you may feel you’re simply choosing someone to represent you. That is true; but how we vote, who counts the votes, and how winners are chosen vary a lot around the world. Understanding other countries’ systems helps us see what is special, or even unusual, about the U.S. system; and helps us ask whether it could work better.
In the U.S., citizens who are at least 18 years old generally can vote for federal offices like the president, senators, and representatives. But the rules differ a lot state to state. Some states require you to register (signing up so you can vote) ahead of time; others allow same-day registration. Some states allow mail-in ballots or early voting; others have more limited options. Because each of the 50 states runs its own elections under state law, the result is a patchwork system (many different rules in many places).
The U.S. also uses a “winner-take-all” system in many races which means the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don’t get a majority (more than half). This type is called “first past the post.” And for presidential elections, the U.S. uses the Electoral College (a group of electors) rather than purely direct national popular vote, which makes the U.S. system rather unique.
Why the United States Has an Electoral College
When Americans vote for president every four years, they’re not actually voting for the president.
What Was Happening in Early U.S. History
To understand why the U.S. has this system, we need to travel back to the late 1700’s, when the nation was founded. The delegates (a person authorized to represent others) at the Constitutional Convention were cautious about giving too much power solely to the people’s direct vote. They feared that popular majorities might dominate minorities, and that states should keep strong roles.
Communication was slow, travel was difficult, and a national election infrastructure did not exist. So they created a system that combined the people’s vote, state influence, and middleman bodies (like the Electoral College) so no single part would hold unchecked power.
Over time, amendments and legal changes added direct vote elements, but the underlying structure remains: each state sets many of the rules, and many electoral contests follow the winner-take-all model.
How Other Nations Do It - Different Approaches
In many other democracies around the world, the voting systems differ in three key ways: how votes are registered, how the votes are counted, and how seats are allotted (distributed) to parties or candidates.
For example, many countries automatically register voters using government records; citizens don’t have to sign up before they vote. The U.S., by contrast, often asks voters to pre-register. That difference can affect how many people actually vote.
Another example: in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, or India, elections might happen under a national electoral body (organization) that sets standard rules for the whole country. The U.S. lacks a single national election body with full control; instead, each state has its own rules and processes.
Also, other countries often use voting systems designed to reflect the share of votes parties get; that’s called proportional representation. Under such systems, if a party gets 30% of the vote overall, they might get about 30% of the seats. In the U.S., because of winner-take-all and single-member districts (each district elects one representative), that direct match between vote share and seat share is less consistent.
How the U.S. Compares - Strengths and Weaknesses
When we compare how the U.S. performs alongside other democracies, several facts stand out. For instance, voter turnout (percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots) in the U.S. has risen in recent years but still trails many peer countries. For example, in some other advanced democracies turnout is over 75% of eligible voters; in the U.S., it has often been in the 60% range.
A major study from the Electoral Integrity Project (which measures fairness, transparency and effectiveness of elections worldwide) ranked the U.S. surprisingly low among liberal democracies. Among the factors were lack of uniform standards across states, differences in access, and post-election disputes.
On the other hand, the U.S. system also has strengths: a long history of free elections (for many citizens), protections for basic rights, and regular transitions of power. But the comparison shows that the system is not the only way; and that other countries offer models of how different structures can lead to higher participation or different kinds of representation.
Why These Differences Matter
Why should we care how other nations vote? Because the system we use affects how well our democracy works. When voters face more obstacles (for example, complex registration, many different local rules), fewer people may participate. When the candidate who gets the most votes doesn’t win, or when the system favors certain parties, people may feel their vote does not count; which can weaken trust in government.
By looking at other systems, we learn possibilities. For example, countries that automatically register voters might reduce a barrier to voting. Systems that use proportional representation might encourage more political parties and give smaller voices a chance. Some countries hold elections on weekends or make election days a holiday to increase turnout.
In the U.S., given its large size, state-based control, and historical path, change is complex. But understanding how the U.S. compares helps citizens, educators, and policymakers ask: Are there reforms that could make voting easier? More inclusive? More representative?
Sources & Additional Readings
“From voter registration to mail-in ballots, how do countries around the world run their elections?”, Pew Research Center
“10 Problematic Ways in Which U.S. Voting Differs From the World’s”, Foreign Policy
“Global Ranking of Electoral Systems”, Citizen Ranking
“Comparing Electoral Systems”, Elections Canada
“What Makes U.S. Elections Different: Three Observations”, International Association of Law Libraries (IALL)
“What Other Countries Can Teach Us About Turnout”, Institute for Responsive Goverment
“How Does U.S. Voter Turnout Compare to the Rest of the World’s?”, Council on Foreign Relations
“Comparing Electoral Systems: Canada and United States”, Elections & Democracy
“Types of Voting System”, Electoral Reform Society
“Comparing the Election Process Between the United States and Others”, Washington Post*
“Why American Elections Are Flawed (and How to Fix Them)”, Harvard Kennedy School
“US and Indian Elections: A comparison of electoral systems”, Business Standard
*This source may be behind a paywall.