A question about Electoral College electors.

[zanana]

I don't remember voting for any electors, yet they will be representing us in the Electoral College. If my memory is correct, in the 2000 Florida election, the House Reps wanted to change the electors by their vote, even before the recount question was settled. In other words, they were going to vote for Bush-appointing electors, no matter what. I guess the question is; "Can any state legislature change the vote after the fact?"

[AndyP]

1. that's a good question

I don't think so because it's the party that chooses the electors that go to the college to cast their vote. The electors can, however, change their vote and vote for whoever they want to. I don't think the state gov't has any control over who goes.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. No.

There's an elector in West Virginia who intends not to vote for Bush in protest. They can't get rid of him. http://www.fairvote.org/e_college/robbcharleston.htm

[Walt Starr]

3. Let's go to the constitution, zanana

Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 is pretty clear, Atlant:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

BUT, timing is critical in this as evidenced by Clause 4 of the same Article and Section:

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

Sooooo, what the Florida legislature proposed doing was unconsitutional on its face, but via an act of Congress, anything could change. In other words, if the Repukes don't like the outcome, they could change the date of choosing and voila, Bush becomes president.

Fortunately, there would be a filibuster in the Senate to shut that kind of crap down, but we could still end up in a constitutional crisis and a mess this year over Repuke dirty tricks and attempted election theft.

Back to you, zanana.

[Demit]

4. on the ballot, right next to the candidate for prez name, are the names

of the electors who are pledged to him. They are who you are actually voting for.

I THINK electors run for the position in the primary election in your state. You would have chosen them then.