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To: DJ MacWoW

Those states can speak for themselves and could, perhaps, recall and re-appoint but they do not supercede the Constitution which requires certain dates specific be met. Those dates will not be changed. There is no requirement in the US constitution that electors have to vote. They are complete free agents.

Electors were to be elected without influence by political parties (”factions” the Founders called them) perhaps with no idea who they were going to vote for. They were to meet in each state and make a decision who to vote for not follow the dictates of a political party or even legislature.

Fear of factions was a driving force at the Convention and devising a means of preventing and thwarting them a major concern. But it only took about five years before Jefferson and Madison created the first political party to stop Hamilton’s program adopted by Washington.


215 posted on 11/07/2008 8:08:06 PM PST by arrogantsob (Hero vs Zero)
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To: arrogantsob
They are complete free agents

They are not. In 24 states the electors have to vote for who the state elected. The electors cannot vote outside of what the state tells them.

President Elect. org

By 1796, the first contested presidential election, parties expected their electors to vote as instructed. Today, electors chosen by the parties are usually extremely loyal members who would never consider not voting for their man.

State Laws and Requirements

Legal Requirements or Pledges Electors in these States are bound by State Law or by pledges to cast their vote for a specific candidate:

ALABAMA
ALASKA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FLORIDA
HAWAII
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW MEXICO
NORTH CAROLINA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
SOUTH CAROLINA
VERMONT
* VIRGINIA - 13 Electoral Votes State Law - § 24.1-162 (Virginia statute may be advisory - "Shall be expected" to vote for nominees.)
WASHINGTON
WISCONSIN
WYOMING

247 posted on 11/07/2008 8:30:19 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you. Ben Franklin)
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To: arrogantsob
That's the best and most understandable description of the rationale for the Electoral College that I've read.

Thanks.

672 posted on 11/10/2008 9:38:22 PM PST by happygrl (BORG: Barack 0bama Resistance Group: we will not be assimilated)
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