General Discussion

no_hypocrisy

(46,067 posts) Sat Dec 10, 2016, 10:19 AM Dec 2016

If the members of the Electoral College weren't allowed to change their votes as per the

popular vote of their individual states, then why aren't the states automatically given to any given candidate? Why even vote if there is no choice?

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If the members of the Electoral College weren't allowed to change their votes as per the (Original Post) no_hypocrisy Dec 2016 OP

Who says that they aren't allowed to "change their votes." onenote Dec 2016 #1

they surely can't prevent them from voting however they want. unblock Dec 2016 #2

onenote

(42,685 posts)

1. Who says that they aren't allowed to "change their votes."

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Original post)

Sat Dec 10, 2016, 10:23 AM

Dec 2016

There are state laws that purport to require electors to follow the results of the popular vote, but none of those laws have ever been enforced and their constitutionality is open to question.

unblock

(52,183 posts)

2. they surely can't prevent them from voting however they want.

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Original post)

Sat Dec 10, 2016, 11:22 AM

Dec 2016

at most they can punish them afterwards. who knows if that's constitutional, though we'd likely get a highly partisan supreme court ruling on it if it ever came to that.

in any event, i'm confident that any such electors could easily find donations available on the internet for their legal troubles.

if they really believed in what they signed up for, they'd be willing to vote their conscience and pay the price.

the problem is, these aren't average citizens. they're generally picked for their loyalty.

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