[Publius]

On November 8, you won't be voting for president, but for electors pledged to a party's candidates for president and vice president. The relationship between electors and their party's national committee is a private one. In the event something happens, the party's national committee can change the nominees by sending registered letters to their electors informing them of the change. This can be done all the way to December 19, the day that the Electoral College votes in its respective state capitals.

It doesn't matter what it says on a ballot line because you are still voting for electors pledged to a party's candidates for president and vice president. Therefore, if Hillary were to leave the race and be replaced by the DNC, the following would happen. First, electors in the 50 states and DC would get their registered notification letters. Second, in those states where the ballot deadlines were still open, the DNC would file to change the ballot lines. Third, in those states where the ballot deadlines had closed, the DNC's radio and TV ads would say, "Vote for the Clinton/Kaine ballot line so that your vote can really be for the Biden/Kaine ticket."

Note that we have some precedent. In 1872, the Democratic presidential nominee died right after the election. The DNC notified its electors by mail that there had been a change of ticket, and Democratic electors voted for the new ticket in December. It was just a formality because Grant and the Republicans had won in a landslide.

[shhrubbery!]

It doesn't matter what it says on a ballot line because you are still voting for electors pledged to a party's candidates for president and vice president.

You're absolutely right about the electors being the real deciders of the election. I would only argue that most voters depend on having their presidential and vice-presidential candidates' names on the ballot. If those names aren't at the top of the ticket, many voters won't figure it out, and the vote count for that party will be depressed.

[goldbux]

* * *

[Lazamataz]

Just quoted your excellent post on kristinn’s article on The Gateway Pundit.

[publius911]

Note that we have some precedent. In 1872, the Democratic presidential nominee died right after the election. The DNC notified its electors by mail that there had been a change of ticket, and Democratic electors voted for the new ticket in December. It was just a formality because Grant and the Republicans had won in a landslide.

I'm glad that I finally read your post, because we are about to witness a second almost identical precedent!"

[rockrr]

The thing that chapped the hides of the Bernouts was the stacked deck of super delegates. Do you know if they would become unbound in such an situation? Is it anyone the “DNC” (whoever all that entails) decides?
Thanks

[OrioleFan]

So Trump could win the election and the electors could give it to YEB? How scary is that.

[LS]

Big problem with that: you would have lawsuits out the wazoo because people with early voting would have already voted then a change was made. MANY (including Dems) will say, “No, I wouldn’t have voted for that person.”

I agree AFTER the election you can have this change-—but not in process. So if anyone IS changed out, vote counters would be required to put one set of names in one stack, the next in another, and so on. It would have the impact of a massive third party, not to mention the incredible confusion to (some) voters.

Finally, it’s one thing to go along with replacing a dead candidate. It’s quite another to replace a living one, especially if she doesn’t want to go, especially if VOTES HAVE ALREADY BEEN VOTED. No, I don’t see it happening.

[PghBaldy]

Very interesting post. Thank you.

[Tunehead54]

Reference bump - Thanks!

[Verbosus]

Bookmark

[nathanbedford]

The bad news is that those Democrats who voted for Hillary will find that their votes are carried over to the benefit of the new Democrat nominee because the Elector who had pledged himself to Hillary would presumably vote for the new nominee.

The good news is that those Democrats who voted third party or voted for Trump out of frustration in the nomination of such a flawed and felonious candidate, will not be able now to vote for Elizabeth Warren.

The bad news is that those Democrats who were going to stay home out of frustration over the nomination of Hillary Clinton and had declined to participate in early voting, can now go to the polls or participate in early voting and cast a ballot for the new nominee.

Assuming the timing works, of course.