Am I off here....because hasn’t this always been the case?
You are absolutely correct.
Yes, it has always been the case.
You’re not off. The court upheld the Constitutional role of the electoral college.
Yeah - the electors are representatives who are oath sworn to vote the way their state voted but ultimately make up a quorum to decide the presidency as one final check against gaming the presidency or an out of control electorate. Say the electors knew the state’s election was corrupt or enough electors did determine that the candidate was unworthy.
It’s a power check and always has been which is why direct democracy is bad - because the ballot boxes can (and were) stuffed - even back in the constitutional congress.
Yeah, the Constitution doesn’t require the Elector to vote anyway but as his conscience directs.
However… does a State have the power/right to force them?
States have many powers over elections, and crimes such as, notably, fraud.
Good to get this straight now before it affects an election!
‘because hasn’t this always been the case?’
yes, it has...
Depends on the state and the party rules.
Some states have you sign a oath to vote for the candidate of the party you represent. If you do not your vote is considered null and you are replaced.
my thoughts, exactly
You are not off here. It has always been the case. We have to count on the party loyalty of the electors chosen by party officials. If Romney happened to be an elector, I’m pretty sure he would screw us!