# Who exactly do we vote for in the POTUS election? A question about the EC **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 12, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862 "2020-12-12T00:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/1 "2020-12-12T00:37:58Z")
This article from Politico has me wondering about who we are voting for when we cast our ballot for POTUS. > **[Biden’s electors prepare to seal his victory, as Trump and coronavirus rage](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/11/biden-electoral-college-vote-444487)** > > In interviews, more than two dozen swing-state electors detailed plans for Monday’s vote — and a hint of anxiety about Trump. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/2 "2020-12-12T01:03:05Z")
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](https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/download/law/2020ElectionLaw.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/3 "2020-12-13T11:44:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Then, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, 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? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/4 "2020-12-13T12:52:43Z")
At least they didn’t pick the last Monday before the third Wednesday in December. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/5 "2020-12-13T15:01:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/6 "2020-12-13T15:47:41Z")
Wait until you find out about how they pick the date for Easter! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-exactly-do-we-vote-for-in-the-potus-election-a-question-about-the-ec/927862/7 "2020-12-13T15:47:58Z")
Here’s a good article by CNN that walks through the process: > **[A step-by-step guide to Monday's Electoral College vote | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/13/politics/electoral-college-vote-step-by-step-guide/index.html)** > > We've known for weeks that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, but our horse-and-buggy Constitution, written in a time before instant communication, works very slowly.