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BzaDem

(11,142 posts)
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 04:33 PM Dec 2016

Say Elizabeth Warren wins 270-268 in 2020, and a Warren elector "votes their conscience."

As a result, the 269-269 election goes to the House, where Republicans overwhelmingly vote to re-elect Trump.

Would you support such an outcome? Because you are doing so, if you support Trump electors voting for anyone other than Trump.

I would much rather live in a country where the people decide who is president (even through the unfortunate loose proxy we have for the people, the electoral college), than a country where 538 random people can "vote their conscience." Even if the result is sometimes one I abhor.

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gordianot

(15,514 posts)
1. The electoral college needs to be reconsidered.
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 04:42 PM
Dec 2016

Until that time we are stuck with it. Presidental elections are not the place for a so called "protest vote".

kelly1mm

(5,202 posts)
3. 13 small states can block any Amendment (and will as it is in their (the state's) best interest)
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 05:05 PM
Dec 2016

so unless you are supporting a constitutional convention I do not understand what you mean by 'reconsidered'.

kelly1mm

(5,202 posts)
7. The 13 ( I say more like 30 IMO) smallest states will not allow their EC 'bonus' to be
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 05:17 PM
Dec 2016

done away with by ratifying an Amendment to the constitution to do so. You need 38 states to ratify an amendment.

no_hypocrisy

(48,782 posts)
2. Got news for you.
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 04:46 PM
Dec 2016

Even if not a single republican Elector changes his/her vote from Trump today, that doesn't mean democratic Electors in 2020 may not change his/her vote. A few did earlier today to make a political statement. While it doesn't change the outcome, it does show the electoral vote is not secure on our side necessarily.

Republicans are more unified, more chauvinistic. While some may have had pangs of conscience for not voting on behalf of their country, they still voted for Trump.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
8. It probably is difficult to comprehend in today's context
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 05:22 PM
Dec 2016

But many things that we support today were bigoted

Slave owners wanted black votes to count in full not a fraction. Took a long time to fix that

Gun control was designed to keep guns away from freed slaves

 

aidbo

(2,328 posts)
11. Slave owning southern states didn't want black votes counted..
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 05:32 PM
Dec 2016

..they wanted black bodies counted in their populations. Giving them more power in the House.

former9thward

(33,424 posts)
14. Which should be everyone's position.
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 06:01 PM
Dec 2016

Government serves bodies it does not serve voters. How many voters are in grade and high schools?

MADem

(135,425 posts)
15. The franchise for those BODIES, though, was exercised by their
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 08:17 PM
Dec 2016

owner--they weren't casting their "percentage" vote, they were simply assets.

 

Captain1way

(33 posts)
10. Perhaps they felt this way ...
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 05:30 PM
Dec 2016

Because Hillary lost, and voting their conscience wouldn't change anything



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