# Count down to December 19th ... Electorial College voting day **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359 "2016-11-10T14:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![OriginalGangster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea5d25/32.png) [@OriginalGangster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OriginalGangster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/61 "2016-11-21T09:33:38Z")
The Hamilton Electors have already started coordinating an anti-Trump movement. Not a joke & it’s not science fiction. The alt-right will immediately dismiss this as hogwash if they see it, but at the same time, they’ll go into a powerful male cry over it. [http://usuncut.news/2016/11/17/2-electoral-college-members-tell-fox-news-they-wont-vote-for-trump-video/](http://usuncut.news/2016/11/17/2-electoral-college-members-tell-fox-news-they-wont-vote-for-trump-video/) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/62 "2016-11-21T10:08:11Z")
“2 Electoral College Members Tell Fox News They Won’t Vote for Trump” is a pretty misleading headline. They’re two _Clinton_ electors. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/63 "2016-11-21T13:01:43Z")
It still seems very improbable that enough cross over’s to the democrats side would spoil this election, but if they did come up with 38 more electoral votes from Republican electors crossing over to take 38 votes away from Donald Trump and add the name Hillary Clinton in his place … Then what happens? US Congress meets January 3rd 2017, reading of the electoral votes cast is scheduled for January 6th and then what? A fight that escalates to the US Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the Electoral College law? I’m not an attorney, but a good defense for Trump’s lawyers is that the cross overs were bribed by offering to pay their fines … then the cross over electoral votes would be considered null and void. In effect canceling 38 votes for Hillary or Trump. Perhaps throwing the entire election back into the US Congress to decide. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/64 "2016-11-21T14:17:56Z")
> [@OriginalGangster](#): > > The Hamilton Electors have already started coordinating an anti-Trump movement. Not a joke & it’s not science fiction. > > The alt-right will immediately dismiss this as hogwash if they see it, but at the same time, they’ll go into a powerful male cry over it. > > [http://usuncut.news/2016/11/17/2-electoral-college-members-tell-fox-news-they-wont-vote-for-trump-video/](http://usuncut.news/2016/11/17/2-electoral-college-members-tell-fox-news-they-wont-vote-for-trump-video/) One of the two electors quoted in that link is Washington Elector Bret Chiafalo. He’s a Democrat, elected from the state of Washington, whose twelve electors went to Hillary Clinton. It’s safe to say, in other words, that on December 19th, Chisfalo will be meeting with eleven other people in the state capital who agree completely that Trump should not be president and are perfectly prepared to not vote for Trump. The second person quoted in that story is Colorado Elector Michael Baca. He’s a Democrat, elected from the state of Colorado, whose nine electors went to Hillary Clinton. It’s safe to say, in other words, that on December 19th, Baca will be meeting with eight other people in the state capital who agree completely that Trump should not be president and are perfectly prepared to not vote for Trump. Did you understand that aspect of the story? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/65 "2016-11-21T14:57:58Z")
Not only that, **Bricker** , but just 2 weeks ago [Chiafalo](http://www.vox.com/2016/11/6/13540504/electors-electoral-college-washington) was saying he may well not cast his electoral vote for Hillary. He sounds to me like an attention grabbing malcontent who will, in all likelihood, never be an elector again. > [@](#): > > Robert Satiacum, a former Bernie Sanders supporter, told the Seattle Times that he will refuse to support Clinton no matter what. A second elector from Washington state, Bret Chiafalo, is saying that he may or may not follow his state’s results. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/66 "2016-11-21T19:18:49Z")
Seeing the EC award the presidency to a moderate Republican by way of the House of Representatives would be a dream come true. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/67 "2016-11-22T14:30:44Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Not only that, **Bricker** , but just 2 weeks ago [Chiafalo](http://www.vox.com/2016/11/6/13540504/electors-electoral-college-washington) was saying he may well not cast his electoral vote for Hillary. He sounds to me like an attention grabbing malcontent who will, in all likelihood, never be an elector again. The numbers game doesn’t add up to either side getting the necessary 270 EC votes … if these EC people keep expressing their desires to vote for someone else on December 19th (28) days from now. If the voters were lured by a promise to pay the fine, how would anyone prove that, then their vote could be decided to be null and void. > [@Velocity](#): > > Seeing the EC award the presidency to a moderate Republican by way of the House of Representatives would be a dream come true. I never even thought it would be or could be anyone else on those steps come January 20th, 2017 than Hillary or Trump. I see others have been thinking the same thing though. Do y’all have time to read this historical fact: [Rutherford B. Hayes - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_B._Hayes) > [@](#): > > In 1876, Hayes was elected president in one of the most contentious elections in national history. He lost the popular vote to Democrat Samuel J. Tilden but he won an intensely disputed electoral college vote after a Congressional commission awarded him twenty contested electoral votes. The result was the Compromise of 1877, in which the Democrats acquiesced to Hayes’s election and Hayes ended all U.S. military involvement in Southern politics. ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/68 "2016-11-22T19:47:14Z")
link to the article [here](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/the-electoral-college-was-meant-to-stop-men-like-trump-from-being-president/508310/). I don’t think it is effective to list a bunch of bad things done by Wilson, FDR and JFK as argument against Trump. After all, we survived JFK. Beinart is explicit that his support of EC rebellion only refers to a Trump win, not Clinton > [@](#): > > I was wrong. Before this election, I supported abolishing the Electoral College. Now I think America needs electors who, in times of national emergency, can prevent demagogues from taking power. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/69 "2016-11-22T23:14:26Z")
I don’t think that these “news” stories would get the seal of approval of a hypothetical “Ministry of Truth”. Are the “Hamilton Electors” all Democrats? If so, IDGAF what they say, they’re going to be on the losing side of the vote. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/70 "2016-11-22T23:20:22Z")
This last-gasp attempt has only two avenues: 1. Persuade 19 Trump electors to vote for Hillary outright, which is just about impossible, and I’m sure all the death threats they’ve been receiving won’t make them any more amenable to the idea; 2. Get 37 Trump electors to vote for a moderate Republican and send the election to the House - but then you also have to persuade the House to sign off on the deal. So two easier steps, but when combined together, may be more difficult than Option 1# above outright. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/71 "2016-11-23T12:25:52Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t think that these “news” stories would get the seal of approval of a hypothetical “Ministry of Truth”. > > Are the “Hamilton Electors” all Democrats? If so, IDGAF what they say, they’re going to be on the losing side of the vote. It was easier to decide the flow of things when it was just one newspaper on the newsstands every morning and the radio for news at noon and of course the water cooler and coffee pot at work. Now I log on with MSN blaring at me the days head lines that Trump did this and Trump did that. Executives have flat screens in their offices with CNN playing with the sound off till something happens, Google and Bing are in reach of anyone that has a desktop or mobile device. News is coming at you from every direction to get you to click on them and increase their ad revenue. The truth now days is in hindsight … 26 days till we reach the next plateau 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/72 "2016-11-28T16:23:11Z")
Just (21) days left till the EC cast their votes … I hope the recount in three states doesn’t taint this already tainted election. It’s not over till it’s over … ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/73 "2016-11-28T16:25:23Z")
So I’m curious: From a mathematical perspective (which is impossible to quantify since you can’t quantify people’s inner thoughts,) which is more likely: 1. Winning the Powerball, or 2. seeing either 19 Trump electors defect to Hillary or 3. seeing 37 Trump electors go faithless AND the House elects someone other than Trump? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/74 "2016-11-28T16:46:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So I’m curious: From a mathematical perspective (which is impossible to quantify since you can’t quantify people’s inner thoughts,) which is more likely: > > 1. Winning the Powerball, or > > 2. seeing either 19 Trump electors defect to Hillary or > > 3. seeing 37 Trump electors go faithless AND the House elects someone other than Trump? I stopped playing Powerball when the Lord told me that some lucky person was going to win after I had just spent ($15) on Powerball tickets. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do have the connection you seek: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=807456](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=807456) As an individual I am allowed to think and I think number #3 on your list may be on the agenda early next year, but as you can imagine this will have to end with the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, making that final decision. It could go either way … stay sober. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/75 "2016-11-28T20:20:27Z")
[Texas Republican elector resigns over Donald Trump](https://www.texastribune.org/2016/11/28/texas-republican-elector-resigns-over-trump/) Wow. This is interesting. > [@](#): > > A Texas Republican elector is resigning over the election of Donald Trump, saying he cannot “in good conscience” vote for the incoming president. > > The elector, Art Sisneros of Dayton, detailed his decision in a blog post Saturday that said he believed voting for Trump “would bring dishonor to God.” On Dec. 19, when the remaining 537 members of the Electoral College are scheduled to meet in state capitols across the country, the Texas delegation will choose Sisneros’ replacement in Austin. > > “I do not see how Donald Trump is biblically qualified to serve in the office of the presidency,” wrote Sisneros, who represents Texas’ 36th congressional district. “Since I can’t in good conscience vote for Donald Trump, and yet have sinfully made a pledge that I would, the best option I see at this time is to resign my position as an elector.” Sure, he’ll be replaced by another Republican, but bravo for speaking out! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/76 "2016-11-29T10:35:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Sure, he’ll be replaced by another Republican, but bravo for speaking out! I’m not so sure that he can be replaced, but again what can a hand full of these kind of men or women make a difference when you need 38 less for Trump and 38 more for Hillary? Bricker said over in post 27: > [@](#): > > On January 6, 2017, the new Congress officially tallies the votes in joint session. > > The Vice President, again in his capacity as President of the Senate, presides over the count and announces the results of the Electoral College vote and which person has been elected President and Vice-President respectively. > > If a State submits conflicting sets of electoral votes to Congress, the two Houses acting concurrently may accept or reject the votes. If they do not concur, the votes of the electors certified by the Governor of the State on the Certificate of Ascertainment would be counted in Congress. > > If no Presidential candidate wins 270 or more electoral votes, a majority, the 12th Amendment to the Constitution provides for the House of Representatives to decide the Presidential election. If necessary the House would elect the President by majority vote, choosing from the three candidates who received the greatest number of electoral votes. The vote would be taken by state, with each state having one vote. > > If no Vice Presidential candidate wins 270 or more electoral votes, a majority, the 12th Amendment provides for the Senate to elect the Vice President. If necessary, the Senate would elect the Vice President by majority vote, choosing from the two candidates who received the greatest number of electoral votes. The vote would be taken by state, with each Senator having one vote. The governor of each state would know of any irregularities by December 19th, but what course of action they could or would take is not in my knowledge banks. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/77 "2016-11-29T16:17:18Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I’m not so sure that he can be replaced, . Yes, of course he can be replaced. Many states choose alternates beforehand but apparently in Texas the remaining electors decide amongst themselves on a replacement. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/78 "2016-11-29T17:07:20Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So I’m curious: From a mathematical perspective (which is impossible to quantify since you can’t quantify people’s inner thoughts,) which is more likely: > > 1. Winning the Powerball, or > > 2. seeing either 19 Trump electors defect to Hillary or > > 3. seeing 37 Trump electors go faithless AND the House elects someone other than Trump? Why are people still talking about 19 Trump electors defecting to HRC? If that happens, Trump still wins the electoral college vote 287-251. HRC needs 38 Trump electors to defect to her, not 19. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/79 "2016-11-29T17:12:39Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Why are people still talking about 19 Trump electors defecting to HRC? If that happens, Trump still wins the electoral college vote 287-251. HRC needs 38 Trump electors to defect to her, not 19. Whoops! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/80 "2016-11-29T17:40:25Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Yes, of course he can be replaced. Many states choose alternates beforehand but apparently in Texas the remaining electors decide amongst themselves on a replacement. In theory they could, but of course they won’t also abstain … Did you know that the state of Texas just happens to have the 38 EC votes all in one state? So in theory and for only $38 million dollars they (you know who they are, right) could purchase an entire election if they wanted to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359.md?page=5)