What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law Faithless Electors and Wrong Winners
Oct 8, 2024
Dive into the convoluted world of the Electoral College, where voters opt for electors instead of candidates. Explore the historical impact of faithless electors and recent legal battles, revealing cracks in the system's democratic integrity. Discover reform proposals that aim to create a fairer electoral process, alongside critiques of the current framework's outdated nature. Finally, unearth the risks faithless electors pose to democracy, highlighting the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in U.S. elections.
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Faithless Elector Example
- In the 1956 presidential election, Alabama elector W.F. Turner voted for Judge Walter B. Jones instead of Adlai Stevenson.
- Turner, a faithless elector, prioritized his obligation to Alabama's white voters.
Indirect Presidential Elections
- Voters in presidential elections select electors, not candidates directly.
- These electors, pledged to a party's candidate, officially cast ballots in December.
Winner-Take-All System and Electoral Timeline
- Most states use a winner-take-all system, awarding all electoral votes to the candidate with a majority, regardless of margin.
- Electors meet on December 17th to cast official ballots, which Congress counts on January 6th.