You Elect Your Electors

In most cases, that is.

Our Constitution Says:

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. Article II, Section 1, Clause 2

What Does That Mean?

It means that The Founders left open to States the ability to write, set, and change their individual laws regarding the selection of Electors without requiring a Constitutional amendment. Washington, Madison, and their colleagues apparently hoped that political parties would not be formed, but the Constitution they authored does not prohibit political parties and, in fact, made it easier for political parties to form and operate within the Constitution. As a direct result, the Elector selection process today comprises two parts:

1. The political parties in each State select their Electors either at a state-wide party Convention or by the party central committee.

• • This happens in each State for each party by whatever rules the State party sets.
  • Each Presidential candidate has a unique slate of potential electors.
  • Political parties often choose individuals for the slate to recognize their service and dedication to that political party.
  • Electors may be elected State officials, State party leaders, or State residents who are affiliated with the party’s Presidential candidate.

2. Voters in the general election organized and conducted by each State also select their State’s electors as they vote for a particular candidate for President.

• • Candidate elector’s names may or may not appear on the ballot below the name of the Presidential candidates, depending on state procedures and ballot formats.
  • The winning Presidential candidate's slate of Electors are appointed as the State's Electors.
    • Except in Nebraska and Maine—because of their use of proportional distribution, the State winner receives two electors and the winner of each congressional district receives one elector.
    • Thus, Nebraska and Maine award electors to more than one candidate.

Can We Keep It?

Apparently, a local citizen of Philadelphia asked a group of delegates to the Constitutional Convention what government they were providing by their efforts. Apparently, Franklin replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

I reckon that Franklin, Madison, Monroe, and Washington never thought that any future U.S. President would so jealously regard his election as guaranteed by right of possession.

It’s harder for me to think that any of our Founders, no matter how compromised they may be by their 18^th century social and political mores in the eyes of 21^st century observers, would believe that any future U.S. electoral political grouping would support such an asshole in his demands to overthrow the popular vote in any jurisdiction.