# Election Day \[Week\]\[Month\[s\]\] \[Year\] 2020 follow-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 3, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618 "2020-11-03T05:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 252
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5030 "2020-11-08T23:43:41Z")
Faithless electors can totally happen. It’s just that the state legislature cannot change its slate of electors or the rules they operate under until this is over. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5031 "2020-11-08T23:46:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’s just that the state legislature cannot change its slate of electors Incorrect. Some states can swap out faithless electors before the votes are validated. Completely depends on state laws. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5032 "2020-11-08T23:47:29Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > File a few frivolous lawsuits to get thrown out by those liberal judges, put some pressure on some other politicians (like PA GOP house members) so you can blame those traitors for not stepping up, and then ride off into the sunset as a glorious leader stabbed in the back. This actually makes a fair amount of sense. Rule One of Donald Trump is definitely not “You don’t talk about Donald Trump;” it’s “Donald Trump always wins.” Using the above scenario allows him to take the stance that DONALD TRUMP WON THE 2020 ELECTION BUT WAS BETRAYED BY THE DEEP STATE! And sufficient _Trumpistas_ will go along that he can have a rally here and there to stroke his ego (and line his pockets). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5033 "2020-11-08T23:48:49Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Will Biden’s Immortality Ceremony, the one where he eats babies, be televised? Yeah, but Closed circuit for Jews who donated 100 Mil+ only, as usual. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5034 "2020-11-08T23:50:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Incorrect. Some states can swap out faithless electors before the votes are validated. Completely depends on state laws. \<\\> They cannot change their current rules. If their rules currently let them do that then they can do that. If not then they are stuck with what they have. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5035 "2020-11-08T23:52:16Z")
Yeah. The way to combat that is to point out that very conservative judges were having no part of it either. Even they couldn’t abide this level of nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5036 "2020-11-08T23:53:11Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > They cannot change their current rules. I didn’t say they could change the rules. So take that condescending sigh and shove it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5037 "2020-11-08T23:53:35Z")
Then what were you correcting? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5038 "2020-11-08T23:55:35Z")
The fact that in some states, faithless electors can be swapped out before their votes are finalized. It’s a pretty clear sentence that I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5039 "2020-11-08T23:55:58Z")
That’s my understanding as well. If the law on election day specifies that the electors are chosen based on the results of the election (as PA’s does), the legislature cannot retroactively change it so they can install their own slate. (Dunno why this refers to **Munch** , I meant to reply to **Whack-a-Mole**.) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5040 "2020-11-08T23:57:20Z")
Where did I say they couldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5041 "2020-11-08T23:59:12Z")
I quoted it and everything. Do keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5042 "2020-11-09T00:00:05Z")
\<\\> ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5043 "2020-11-09T00:00:18Z")
Flashback to the electors certifying the election four years ago > **Joe Biden steamrolled Democrats objecting to Trump’s Electoral College victory** > Vice President Joe Biden, presiding over the official Electoral College vote tally on the House floor Friday, had three words for Democratic lawmakers attempting to object to the results of the election.“It is over,” the vice president said, eliciting laughs from House Speaker Paul Ryan, seated behind him, and applause from lawmakers in the chamber. > **[Joe Biden steamrolled Democrats objecting to Trump’s Electoral College victory](https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-electoral-college-democrats-over-2017-1?r=US&IR=T)** > > Biden, presiding over the official Electoral College vote tally on the House floor, had three words for Democratic lawmakers objecting to the results. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5044 "2020-11-09T00:01:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The fact that in some states, faithless electors can be swapped out before their votes are finalized. My internet-fu must be lacking. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5045 "2020-11-09T00:02:22Z")
There have been a few drops from Arizona in the last hour. Biden’s lead is down to 16,952 There are 77,973 ballots left to count. Most of these are from Maricopa (38,359) and Pima (18,700). This means Trump needs to win 71.7% of the remaining votes to overtake. It’s not going to happen for him - especially as there are not any big counts left from heavily leaning red counties. It still conceivable he could force a recount but even that is slim as AZ law requires a VERY close vote to trigger one. Nevertheless it’s not been called yet. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5046 "2020-11-09T00:07:34Z")
It looks like Biden will get 306 in the end (I think he will squeak through in Georgia too which is closer). Trump got 306 and they called that a mandate for Trump so yay! Mandate for Biden too! Right? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5047 "2020-11-09T00:08:17Z")
We should pause and embrace the majesty which is this 2019 John McNaughton painting of leading Democrats playing (and cheating at (Cory! Pete!)) poker while surrounded by dogs: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SRsM44bRjNyEl9vQD1JiyIAMwxRV7_mGTcLDr7eP1MhmtJqkg_DKiSUF7-meHzeIcoXuw_QvGpKDp_Y0cpS5PY7t0k8HyAYkunjNVsGAMsrOwM70ZD_pBBCxPjh-lim6FcvLSqJ6Rw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/RevMfXhGarhm1asX9) Guys, I have questions: 1. Where is Bailey? E Warren has a Golden Retriever, not that froo-froo dog. 2. That one dog is desperately trying to get Bidens attention, even going so far as putting his paw on Biden’s shoulder. Think he’s trying to tell Biden that Warren is holding a full house? 3. What does the ace of clubs do to improve Pete’s hand? From what I can tell, it just gives him a pair of aces. 4. Will say McNaughton got the chip distribution about right. I think Biden won this hand too. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5048 "2020-11-09T00:08:23Z")
Here’s what happened with a faithless elector’s vote in Minnesota in 2016: > **[Minnesota electors align for Clinton; one replaced after voting for Sanders](https://m.startribune.com/mn-electors-meet-award-clinton-votes-amid-protests-against-trump/407477396/?clmob=y&c=n)** > > Minn. electors align for Clinton; lone Sanders dissenter replaced ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5049 "2020-11-09T00:10:20Z")
Are you suggesting that the statement “It’s just that the state legislature cannot change its slate of electors” is true? Because it’s not. Which is why I quoted it and corrected it. Why you think you need to defend your wrongness is confusing, but I’m happy to point it out again since you insist on being condescending. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=251) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=253)