Why Your Vote Barely Matters

Economist Bryan Caplan argues that your vote is mathematically powerless. He claims the odds of a single person deciding a national election are lower than the odds of being struck by lightning.

Caplan is famous for his bold take on public choice theory and democratic participation. He suggests that because the chance of casting the deciding vote is so incredibly small, voters are actually acting irrationally when they head to the polls. Instead of voting based on facts, he argues people vote for self-expression, like cheering for a favorite sports team. This provocative perspective has sparked intense debates about how modern democracy actually functions.