This article from Politico has me wondering about who we are voting for when we cast our ballot for POTUS.
The question is, do we vote for specific individual electors or for a Democratic or Republican slate of electors? If, say, a Democratic elector from Michigan is unable to cast their vote at the appointed time and place, for whatever reason, can they be replaced? If so, who gets to pick that replacement? The chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party? The Biden campaign?
The procedure will vary from state to state, but for example in New York, the voters cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, and those votes are deemed to be votes for the slate of electors selected by that candidate and party. (New York Election law, article 12-100.)
Then, the state board of electors prepares a formal list of the electors who were elected, with a tally of the votes they got. That’s sealed with the great seal of New York and signed by the Governor (art. 12-102).
Then, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors gather in the state Capitol. At the stroke of noon, they meet. If there are any vacancies caused by death, illness or refusal to act, the electors present can elect alternatives to fill the gaps. They also elect a president of the meeting, and secretaries, from amongst their number (art. 12-104).
At last, the electors vote, following the procedure set out in the Twelfth Amendment, which is duplicated in the New York statute (art. 12-106).
Finally, the president of the New York electors distributes certificates of the vote to various officials, notably the President of the United States Senate (art. 12-108).
https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/download/law/2020ElectionLaw.pdf
Just because moot points interest me and of no consequence, by what particular voodoo spell would the ancient legislators determine to pick that act of diarisation?
At least they didn’t pick the last Monday before the third Wednesday in December.
It’s set by federal law. I assume it’s because if they used a set date, it could fall on a weekend. This approach it ensures the vote will be in a Monday in mid-December.
Wait until you find out about how they pick the date for Easter!
Here’s a good article by CNN that walks through the process: