Justices fear ‘chaos’ from rogue Electoral College delegates

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Raising the potential of “chaos” in coming presidential elections, the U.S. Supreme Court signals support for several states’ efforts to crack down on rogue Electoral College delegates who cast ballots in defiance of popular vote.

Two so-called"faithless electors," from Washington and Colorado, were penalized by their states in 2016 after voting for a Republican presidential candidate against state laws requiring them to back their respective states' popular vote winner -- the Democrat, Hillary Clinton.

Lessig contends states have the power to appoint electors but cannot control how they vote, giving them broad discretion as representatives even if they take a pledge to vote a certain way. The Constitution establishes the Electoral College process, letting states send representatives to indirectly elect the next president of the United State. More than two dozen states have laws requiring presidential electors to cast ballots for the popular-vote winner. Rogue electors are rare, but in a very close race could be critical.

Several justices contemplated what would happen if an elector is blackmailed, lied about his or her eligibility or even failed to show up for a meeting of the Electoral College. Bret Chiafalo, a plaintiff in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court on 'faithless electors' poses for a photo at Lake Stickney Park near his home in Lynnwood, Wash., May 9, 2020. Chiafalo and another lead plaintiff, Micheal Baca, were Democratic electors who sought to persuade Republican electors to disregard their pledges. They cast their ballots for moderate Republicans and not Clinton. Chiafalo was fined $1,000 by Washington state. Baca’s vote was canceled by Colorado officials.

Chief Justice John Roberts and several associate justices raised concern about the potential for bribery.

 

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It only took them a quarter century to fix that problem.

Let the people have a voice not the EC.... Majority wins!

About time. Can the rogue Electoral College Delegate be prosecute?. Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000. Lost Florida since Jeb Bush was the Governor then.

No need to fear... first move general election to May or November 2021 after country more normal & have real campaign...get new candidates..Biden too old, frail, memory lapse, female abuse..& Trump lookin old & tired, impeached, injecting, can’t read & too much BS at times..!

Sense when does the Supreme Court 'crack down' on individual citizens😳

GOP victories from Tuesday's special election races ignored by ! Wonder if the coverage would have been different if the Dem candidate had won? I think so!

Good🎯🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Get rid of it, problem solved.

Good . Electoral votes are supposed to reflect the majority of votes in that state!

Oh there’s definitely going to be chaos for sure. Given the political climate and the boiling tensions of COVID19 along with unemployment and desperation, along with racism....Trump losing or winning will make somebody mad..... preparedness

कैलिफोर्निया के आसमान में दिखी अजीब आकार की शिप, UFO का शक!

We need names! How did each electoral member vote in 2016, and did their vote reflect their states choice for President

they can not mess with the electoral and they can not threaten the people who work at the electoral college like they did in 2017

trumps a chump and classless Mitch

It’s worked well since the inception. We don’t need the Cities of Chicago, Atlanta, NewYork City, San Fran and LA deciding the election. Keep the College as it is. When Socialists complain you know something’s working right!

And they knew this last time but no investigation into voter fraud on them?

Maybe work on a free and fair popular vote first!

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