ASU Reacts: What Earthquakes Can Teach Us About Elections

Emily Robertson: New research shows that presidential election outcomes can be determined the same way scientists predict earthquakes. When the country is in upheaval, it is likely that the country will chose the new candidate. On the opposite side, when everything is stable, the one in power tends to remain in power. Where there is stability, there is no earthquake. These studies were sure to get interesting reactions, so I talked to a fellow student of Arizona State University, Brianna Quintero, and here is what she had to say.

Emily Robertson: Were you surprised when you heard that these two subjects could be related?

Brianna Quintero: Yes, I thought it was interesting because we usually don’t hear those two subjects being compared to each other.

Emily Robertson: Do you think this method will work during the next election?

Brianna Quintero: I don’t see how this method could work because President Obama will have already completed his second term. How will geophysicists be able to measure the stability of the country when there will be two new candidates?

Emily Robertson: is it possible that this way of thinking was really scientific, or could it have been by chance that he predicted this?

Brianna Quintero: I fell like it was a lucky guess, although this method does seem to make sense.

Emily Robertson: Brianna brought up thought-provoking points, such as the election happening in four years. It is difficult to say how this method will contribute to the years to come. I feel that a lot of people would come to the same conclusion, feeling that this is chance. Although this method may not be foolproof, it is interesting to see new ways to predict the future leaders of the country.