This chapter examines the intricacies of the U.S. presidential election process, focusing on the role of electors and historical contested elections. It highlights key moments from 1796 to 2000, illustrating the challenges states face regarding vote counting and recounts. Central to the discussion are the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by electors, including the significant case of Samuel Miles and the implications of their decisions on the democratic process.
In this episode of our mini-series on presidential elections, we take a look at three examples of how states handled recounts in close elections. Are we in for a redo of Florida in 2000—or does Hawaii in 1960 provide a better example? A companion series of blog posts related to this episode can be found at http://takecareblog.com