There Likely Won't Be A 2016 Revote

It was a dream come true for some, a waking nightmare to others, and an absolute shock to almost everyone. In the comeback of the century, the Republican candidate emerged from a significant poll deficit in mid-October. Now, according to the Associated Press, Donald Trump has become the president-elect. Now, many Americans may be wondering, will there be a revote in the 2016 election? I have bad news for anyone who might be hoping for the tiniest chance of a yes: There almost certainly won't be.

Trump snagged a huge number of electoral votes throughout the evening, climbing high above Clinton after winning swing states including Ohio and Pennsylvania. Many Americans who dislike Trump but sat this election out may regret not participating. What's done is done, though, and there are no second chances in presidential elections. There will not be a revote, and the election winner is set to become the 45th President of the United States in January.

Voter's remorse — and, for that matter, nonvoter's remorse — is common in close elections, as many who abstained from voting or merely forgot are reminded of what's at stake. When Great Britain voted to leave the European Union last summer, millions of British voters signed a petition asking Parliament to institute a revote. But just as the Brexit revote wasn't to be, neither will Americans get the opportunity to change their minds.

The only changeable aspect of this election are the actual votes cast by the Electoral College, but even that isn't likely to tip the election away from a Trump win. Last August, an elector for the GOP in Georgia threatened to vote for a write-in candidate over Trump; that elector resigned shortly afterwards. Many states legally bind their electors to vote for the winner of the statewide popular vote, so even a concerted effort by many states' electors would likely be insufficient to change the outcome.

It's obviously unlikely that most liberal voters will make good on the proverbial threat to move to Canada with a Trump win (and they might not even want to, considering Canada's high unemployment rate and lack of Target stores).

The reality of the situation is that voting matters. Anyone who is upset about the outcome of the election who didn't vote (or, arguably, anyone who voted for a third-party candidate) only has themselves to blame. No matter what the polls say, no election outcome is a foregone conclusion, and there are no good arguments for failing to vote.

Like it or not, this election was over when the polling places closed and the final votes were cast — so if you're not happy, take those feelings with you to the next election and make sure your voice is heard.

Image: Bustle/Caroline Wurtzel