In response to a question from wifey last nite, I did some digging on the Electoral College

[Ferrets are Cool]

And found out something I did not know. Members are NOT bound to vote for the voters choice for POTUS.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/us/politics/electoral-college-faithless-elector.html

In a ruling that kicks at the foundation of how America chooses presidents, a federal appeals court on Tuesday said members of the Electoral College, who cast the actual votes for president, may choose whomever they please regardless of a state’s popular vote.

The ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver said Colorado was out of bounds in 2016 when it canceled the vote of a so-called faithless elector named Michael Baca. Mr. Baca, a Democrat, wrote in the name of John Kasich, a Republican who was Ohio’s governor at the time, even though Hillary Clinton carried Colorado, earning its nine electoral votes. The secretary of state replaced Mr. Baca with another elector who then voted for Mrs. Clinton.

“The text of the Constitution makes clear that states do not have the constitutional authority to interfere with presidential electors who exercise their constitutional right to vote for the president and vice president candidates of their choice,” the court majority wrote in a split ruling by a three-judge panel.


Just one more reason we need to rid ourselves of this outdated form of choosing a President.

[SheltieLover]

1. Convenient, isn't it?

[bullimiami]

2. but in June 2020 SC ruled states faithless elector laws are constitutional

https://www.npr.org/2020/07/06/885168480/supreme-court-rules-state-faithless-elector-laws-constitutional

[krispos42]

3. Yeah, but the party picks the electors

I can't see more than a couple not voting as intended, and that won't change the outcome

[bullimiami]

4. right. one or a few maybe you could swing. 40? not so likely.

[Dem4Life1102]

5. I believe that was overruled by the Supreme Court

This is from last July: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/06/885168480/supreme-court-rules-state-faithless-elector-laws-constitutional

[Native]

8. Great article. Thanks for the post!!!

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. Thank you so much for this update

Makes me feel better, but we still need to get rid of EC.

[woodsprite]

6. Yup, still something to worry about.

That and what damage Trump will do on his way out.

Just one more reason why the GA runoffs are SOOOOO important.

[Grins]

7. Overturned by Supreme Court last July.

SCOTUS ruled that a state can force electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote.

What I didn’t see, were there any states that would refuse to do that?

[NotAPuppet]

9. If that's the plan,

then we would find out on December 14th when they file the Certificates of Ascertainment. I doubt that we have to worry about this being an issue.

[patricia92243]

10. So, whoever can bribe the electors the most can be the President.

That is what is really being said. Time to get rid of electoral college.

[In It to Win It]

11. Certain states have laws on the books that electors have to vote for the state's popular vote winner

Some states don’t... and that’s where you have the problem.

The Supreme Court affirmed this year that state law is binding on electors and electors don’t have that discretion if their state law prohibits it.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

12. A number of states have passed laws that require Electorates to vote for the candidate who

won the popular vote in that state. Many of them are toothless laws as there is no penalty for voting against the will of the majority.
For instance, neither Georgia or Pennsylvania have such a law and electors can vote for who they want without penalty.

That being said, it would be in character with the corrupt mob mentality of the current administration and campaign to attempt to strongarm, bribe or coerce the electorates from those states to change their vote.

This really troubled me to the point where anxiety was setting in. I've had enough anxiety over the past 4 years to last more than a couple lifetimes.
Then I figured that if we can't trust our fellows who have been appointed by members of our party to cast their vote in America's best interest, then who can we trust?

I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to trust. If the worst happens we'll deal with it then.
Until then I'm going to keep visualizing how wonderful it will be to see kindness and competence back in the White House come Jan. 20, 2021