Monday Balloting Begins Electoral Vote Ritual to Certify Obama’s Win

[babylonsister]

Dec. 15, 2008 – 4:36 a.m.
Monday Balloting Begins Electoral Vote Ritual to Certify Obama’s Win
By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff


The outcome of the 2008 presidential contest was determined late on Election Day Nov. 4, when Democrat Barack Obama claimed victory and Republican John McCain conceded. The vigorous efforts since by Obama and his transition team to fill Cabinet posts and staff the White House for his administration have kept Obama in the news on almost a daily basis, even though he won’t be sworn in to succeed outgoing Republican George W. Bush until Jan. 20.

But in a strictly technical sense, Obama hasn’t won anything yet — though the ritual casting of electoral votes in each of the 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia, scheduled to take place Monday, will begin the two-step process to certify the former Illinois senator’s election as the 44th president of the United States.

Obama won a clear-cut victory in the nation’s popular vote, with 53 percent to 46 percent for McCain. But presidential elections are decided by winning a majority of the 538 electoral votes, with each of the 50 states allotted a number equal to both its U.S. Senate seats plus all of its House seats. The District of Columbia, which has only a non-voting House delegate, is allotted three electoral votes under the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution.

There is no dispute that Obama also will win a firm majority of the 538 electoral votes. He should receive 365 to 173 for McCain, according to state-by-state tallies of the popular vote. The electors in each of these places — many of them Democratic and Republican activists, and nearly all selected by the candidates’ campaigns because of their loyalty — will convene to cast the votes that will make Obama’s election official.

These electoral votes will then be counted in a joint session of Congress on Jan. 8, two days after the 111th Congress convenes and 12 days before Obama will take the oath of office.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002997757

[DCBob]

1. Will any results be released publicly today?

Not worried but it would be nice to see the final tally.

[babylonsister]

3. I don't know how long it will take. It's a formality, so hopefully not long. nt

[WeDidIt]

4. Nope. They are read in a joint session of Congress on January 8

They get sealed today and are sent to the Congress for the official reading.

[babylonsister]

2. Electors casting historic vote across the country

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ELECTORAL_VOTE?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Electors casting historic vote across the country


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Presidential electors are gathering in state capitals across the country to cast the votes that will formally elect Barack Obama as president.

It's a mostly ceremonial procedure, but one mandated by the Constitution - and a necessary one, as well.

In Virginia, the state that once was the home of the Confederate Congress, Gov. Tim Kaine will convene the Electoral College at noon Monday in the House of Delegates. This is a scene that will be duplicated across the land as electors cast the votes that officially close the book on the 2008 election.

[DCBob]

5. Results coming in

Maryland electors cast ballots for Obama
By Stephen Kiehl | [e-mail]
12:44 PM EST, December 15, 2008

The 10 electors representing Maryland in the Electoral College cast their ballots today for Barack Obama in a solemn and celebratory ritual repeated in state capitals across the country.

Though the vote in the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis lacked suspense, it was no less moving for its predictability. The electors, after being sworn in and signing a book listing the names of Maryland electors going back decades, held up their right hand and announced their choice for president and vice president.

After the last elector cast his ballot for Obama, the room filled with schoolchildren, state workers and other observers burst into a standing ovation. The electors signed the official certificate of vote forms, which will be sent to the office of the vice president of the United States, the National Archives and a federal judge.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-elect1215,0,7190715.story
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Conn. Democratic electors pick Obama
December 15, 2008

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Connecticut's promise to throw its support behind Barack Obama became official Monday as the state's Electoral College unanimously cast its seven votes for the nation's first black president.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--electoralcollege1215dec15,0,2850356.story
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Illinois electors cast ballots for Obama
Associated Press 10:59 AM CST, December 15, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - As expected, Illinois' 21 electors have cast their presidential ballots for President-elect Barack Obama.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-electoralvote,0,5036134.story
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Obama sweeps Minnesota!
December 15th, 2008 – 1:24 PM by Kevin Duchschere

It’s now official, according to Secretary of State Mark Ritchie — all of Minnesota’s 10 electoral votes have been cast for Barack Obama, of the State of Illinois, for president, and Joseph Biden, of the State of Delaware, for vice president.

http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=1247
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56th Pennsylvania Electoral College Selects Obama for President

Last update: 1:53 p.m. EST Dec. 15, 2008
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec 15, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Continuing a process established 219 years ago, the 56th College of Electors convened at noon on the floor of the House of Representatives in the state Capitol and officially cast, certified and transmitted votes for Barack Obama for president and Joe Biden for vice-president of the United States.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/56th-Pennsylvania-Electoral-College-Selects/story.aspx?guid={8336D97E-8D8A-4502-A717-ADE269BA16F9}
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Looking good so far!! :toast: :bounce: :party:

[Zynx]

6. I'm really really concerned about the Bradley effect here. I guess because the vote

is public we don't need to worry.

[DCBob]

7. LOL! The infamous Bradley "non-effect"

:)

[DCBob]

8. More good results!!

NH's 4 electors cast Obama ballots
Boston Globe, United States - 2 hours ago
CONCORD, NH—Democrats have cast New Hampshire's four votes to formally elect Barack Obama as president,

Indiana’s 11 electoral voters cast votes for Obama
Indianapolis Star, United States - 3 hours ago
By Bill Ruthhart In a 90-minute ceremony in the Indiana House chamber at the Statehouse, the state’s 11 presidential electors selected by the state’s ...

Iowa electors cast state's 7 votes for Obama
Chicago Tribune, United States - 3 hours ago
AP DES MOINES, Iowa - A marathon presidential campaign that began in Iowa nearly three years ago has formally ended with seven presidential electors casting ...

Wisconsin's electoral college members meet
Chicago Tribune, United States - 4 hours ago
AP MADISON, Wis. - Ten Wisconsin Democrats are gathering in the state Capitol to cast their Electoral College votes for Barack Obama. ...

Michigan Electors Meet to Cast College Ballots in Accordance with ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
"Congratulations to Michigan Electors who gather to execute their constitutional duty and officially elect Barack Obama President of the United States. ...

NY casting 31 Electoral College votes for Obama
Newsday, NY - 4 hours ago
ALBANY, NY (AP) _ The 31 members of New York state's electoral college will vote Monday to make the results of the presidential election official.

Minnesota joins nation today to cast Electoral College votes
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 6 hours ago
By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune There's still one more round of voting to take place this election season in Minnesota and all across the United States...

Washington casting 11 votes in Electoral College
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 6 hours ago
AP OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The results of the presidential election become official in Washington when 11 members of the Electoral College meet at the Capitol. ...

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Congrats to PE Obama!!! WooHoo!! :toast: