Serious Procedure Question

[keith99]

Yeah thats one thing I never understood entirely. Is there any "law" or rule that states how the electors vote or can they vote for whoever they want? Like for an example we wake up tomorrow and all of a sudden Bill Gates is president?

For many states the electors are pledged to vote for a specific candidate. However there is no remedy as far as I know for doing something different. Early on there is a case of an elector voting for someone other than the person he was elected to vote for simply to prevent a unanamous vote, he felt Washing should be the only such.

Some states vary the number of ballots an elector is pledged for. 1 and 3 are popular numbers (I think).

The electoral college keeps voting until some candidate has a majority. An attempt to get Hillary in if something happens to Obama has a huge negative potential. In practical terms I think Biden and someone is a forgone conclusion. (But just who the somebody is might involve lots of backroom deals).

 

[Maren]

For many states the electors are pledged to vote for a specific candidate. However there is no remedy as far as I know for doing something different. Early on there is a case of an elector voting for someone other than the person he was elected to vote for simply to prevent a unanamous vote, he felt Washing should be the only such.

Some states vary the number of ballots an elector is pledged for. 1 and 3 are popular numbers (I think).

The electoral college keeps voting until some candidate has a majority. An attempt to get Hillary in if something happens to Obama has a huge negative potential. In practical terms I think Biden and someone is a forgone conclusion. (But just who the somebody is might involve lots of backroom deals).

The Electoral College gets only one vote. They vote in their state capitols and send the results of their vote to the Office of the Vice President, in his role as President of the Senate, where they are placed unopened in one of two boxes for a presentation to a joint session of Congress. If no majority is reached the House of Representatives and/or Senate then vote (for President and Vice President respectively).

There are currently laws in 24 states that punish an elector for not voting as he is pledged to. Beyond that, you have to realize elector are chosen based on their loyalty to the party and candidate and so are unlikely to vote for anyone else.

 

[keith99]

The Electoral College gets only one vote. They vote in their state capitols and send the results of their vote to the Office of the Vice President, in his role as President of the Senate, where they are placed unopened in one of two boxes for a presentation to a joint session of Congress. If no majority is reached the House of Representatives and/or Senate then vote (for President and Vice President respectively).

There are currently laws in 24 states that punish an elector for not voting as he is pledged to. Beyond that, you have to realize elector are chosen based on their loyalty to the party and candidate and so are unlikely to vote for anyone else.

I stand corrected. The method of the house vote has some major problems. As it stands if there was a situation like the one described, especially at the wrong time that caused no majority and of the house voted along party lines I think it works out that McCain wins.

EDIT: But McCain / Bidden or Obama, not McCain/Palin!

Dang if there is ever a serious 3 way race the final result could be a major problem.

 

[Maren]

I stand corrected. The method of the house vote has some major problems. As it stands if there was a situation like the one described, especially at the wrong time that caused no majority and of the house voted along party lines I think it works out that McCain wins.

EDIT: But McCain / Bidden or Obama, not McCain/Palin!

Dang if there is ever a serious 3 way race the final result could be a major problem.

I'm curious why you believe McCain would win since the Democrats have a majority in the House (currently 235-199)?