One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reduces power consumption by using capacitive coupling to perform a majority detection operation. The system starts by driving a plurality of signals onto a plurality of driven wires. The signals are then fed from each driven wire through a corresponding coupling capacitor to a single majority detection wire. Next, the system feeds signal on the majority detection wire and a bias voltage to a differential receiver. The output of the differential receiver switches if the signal on the majority-detection wire switches relative to the bias voltage. The system then uses the output of the differential receiver to optimize the signals from the plurality of driven wires for transmission across a long signal route. Optimizing the transmission of signals reduces the power consumed by the computer system.