December 15, 2020
Contested Elections
Timothy Birdnow
Here is an interesting article about contested elections and the way they work.
I could quibble with this article. For example they say
"Some in attendance favored a national popular vote, while others wanted Congress to select the chief executive. Their compromise—the Electoral College—was something of a hybrid"
but that is not exactly true. There
was absolutely no mandate for any state to hold an election. Many of
the states had their legislatures chose the slate of electors, as late
as 1860 when South Carolina did. And the Founders thought most of the
elections would be decided in the U.S. House of Representatives
Also, electors were supposed to be respected and educated and usually landholders. That was because the Founders did NOT trust democracy and did not want the President chosen by people who could easily be demagogued and at the same time they wanted people with an actual stake in the country (not looking to gain from it). Binding electors is also a somewhat modern idea; part of having them was to use their own judgment if needed. If a major scandal broke after the election the electors were supposed to rethink their support. Laws forcing them to vote as pledged were never part of the thinking of the Founders.
At any rate this shows there is still a razor thin chance this theft could be stopped. But it will require courage and solidarity from Republicans, and they just don't have the spine.
Here is an interesting article about contested elections and the way they work.
I could quibble with this article. For example they say
"Some in attendance favored a national popular vote, while others wanted Congress to select the chief executive. Their compromise—the Electoral College—was something of a hybrid"
Also, electors were supposed to be respected and educated and usually landholders. That was because the Founders did NOT trust democracy and did not want the President chosen by people who could easily be demagogued and at the same time they wanted people with an actual stake in the country (not looking to gain from it). Binding electors is also a somewhat modern idea; part of having them was to use their own judgment if needed. If a major scandal broke after the election the electors were supposed to rethink their support. Laws forcing them to vote as pledged were never part of the thinking of the Founders.
At any rate this shows there is still a razor thin chance this theft could be stopped. But it will require courage and solidarity from Republicans, and they just don't have the spine.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
12:06 PM
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