AWB wrote:
Here in Georgia, the Libertarian Party has its own slate of electors, which are listed on the ballot, just like the Democratic & Republican parties.
see, that’s why I lurk. I’ll post again when I have something to contribute.
Voter.com’s current projections for the EC are Bush-230 and Gore-232. They have Pennsylvania and Michigan going for Gore.
I believe all the states require the parties to have their electors ready to go before the election, however, I think you can change them before the day they have to vote. After all, electors can get sick and die.
Which raises the question:
Suppose the numbers really do turn out that way tonight, that close. Suppose two electors decide to be wiseguys and vote for Bush, even though the people in their States had elected them to vote for Gore. What would happen?
If two electors decided to vote for the candidate of the other party, the biggest problem they would face is that a lot of people would be very mad at them. However, there would approximately be an equal number of people happy with them.
Those electors probably won’t get many Christmas cards from the party they deserted.
In that case Bush would be president and two electors would never see the inside of the Democrat Party again.
There would be an incredibly public hue and cry and perhaps the Constitution would be (wrongly) amended to abolish the electoral college.
But there would be nothing to be done. Bush would be president.
El Destructo, I hope it wasn’t my sarcasm that scared you away. I’m sure you are at least as smart as I am. Don’t hesitate to jump in these discussions and tell me to stuff it when I act too high and mighty!
Why El Destructo? Do you have magical super-destructing powers?
This scenario could actually happen. If Florida decides the election by a close margin, I’ll bet you that the early media call is going to spark some protest by the losing side, which may also attempt to put heavy pressure on the electors in Florida to do the ‘right’ thing.