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Oregon, other states, consider end run around Electoral College
The News Review & AP ^ | January 29, 2007 | julia silverman

Posted on 01/29/2007 7:40:26 AM PST by seetheman

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To: AmishDude
United States Code
TITLE 3 - THE PRESIDENT
CHAPTER 1 - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES

Section 1. Time of appointing electors

The electors of President and Vice President shall be appointed, in each State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President.

41 posted on 01/29/2007 9:27:48 AM PST by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: traditional1
It's not unconstitutional. The Constitution stipulates:

"Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress...":

A state could award elector based on the winner of the World Series and it's perfectly legal.

42 posted on 01/29/2007 9:29:04 AM PST by wny
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To: michigander
on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November

One week after the election? I never understand this legalese for calendar dates.

43 posted on 01/29/2007 9:30:04 AM PST by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: AmishDude
I hear you. That wording is stupid.
But then, how stupid is this?...

Section 2. Failure to make choice on prescribed day

Whenever any State has held an election for the purpose of choosing electors, and has failed to make a choice on the day prescribed by law, the electors may be appointed on a subsequent day in such a manner as the legislature of such State may direct.

44 posted on 01/29/2007 9:33:12 AM PST by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: seetheman

"But Oregon's status could change under a pending bill in the Legislature that would award the state's seven electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationally, regardless of who wins the state."

HUH!!!??

Message to the voters, "We're going to take away your vote for the common good. We'll vote for the one OTHER states think best."


45 posted on 01/29/2007 9:34:04 AM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Liberals are blind. They are the dupes of Leftists who know exactly what they're doing.)
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To: seetheman
Such an agreement would not take effect unless adopted by state legislatures representing a majority of electoral votes.

What happens if census reapportionment puts theses states back in the minority? Does the agreement then end?

-PJ

46 posted on 01/29/2007 9:35:34 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (It's still not safe to vote Democrat.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

This is supported by those who are frequently decrying the disenfranchisement of minority voters. This is the ultimate in disenfranchisement.

But it is in keeping with Leftist ideology: where we see inequalities, we take everything away from everyone and reduce everyone to the lowest common denominator (poverty and enslavement), including the right to vote.


47 posted on 01/29/2007 9:40:09 AM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Liberals are blind. They are the dupes of Leftists who know exactly what they're doing.)
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To: seetheman
But Oregon's status could change under a pending bill in the Legislature that would award the state's seven electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationally, regardless of who wins the state.

I hope the citizens of Oregon realize that this is an effort by their lawmakers to strip them of the right to have a say in Presidential elections.

48 posted on 01/29/2007 9:46:12 AM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: seetheman

Reforming the electoral college is really simple. Apply the Nebraska formula: One of each states' electoral votes are awarded to the winner of each congressional district and the remaining two are awarded 'at-large' to the winner of the overall state vote. Had that applied to the 2000 vote, Bush would have won with a larger margin in the electoral college and all the hue and cry about Florida would have been moot. In 2004 he would have also won with a large margin. Of course, Democrats are not about to do something that benefits Republicans, but it is the fairest way of keeping the intent of the founders. In my home state (CA) all of its electoral votes went for Gore and Kerry even though Bush carried a sizeable number of the congressional districts. Under the Nebraska system Presidental candidates would spend time and effort on states and areas currently ignored, ie CA for Republicans, Texas for Democrats. No longer would states be ceded to the other side and the campaign would again take on a national character, rather than the regional one is has become.


49 posted on 01/29/2007 9:50:45 AM PST by Tarnsman
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To: seetheman
Guess where politicians would direct thier efforts if population was all that counted?


50 posted on 01/29/2007 9:53:16 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: no dems
You can bet the family farm that this would end up in the Supreme Court and I feel certain they would strike it down in a heartbeat. Not to worry.

I hope your farm wasn't bet on the CFR decision or the Kelo decision.

51 posted on 01/29/2007 9:57:15 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: seetheman

That nasty old Constitution just gets in the way of radicalized Liberalism, doncha' know...

Democrat Party Fascism and mob rule is just so fashionable, isn't it?


52 posted on 01/29/2007 9:59:07 AM PST by tcrlaf (VOTE DEM! You'll Look GREAT In A Burqa!)
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To: traditional1
That's the whole point. The "Red States" will be screwed in this situation.

If the Democrats get away with this bill, it will hasten the break up of the United States of America because the people in flyover country won't stand for this.

53 posted on 01/29/2007 10:00:00 AM PST by MinorityRepublican (Everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: r9etb
The left's reasoning -- probably sound -- is that they can reliably carry majorities in the large population centers, without too much effort. Then they could carefully choose where in the red states to get the marginal percentages needed to create a national majority.

If you look at who is supporting this, there are members of both parties pushing it. They realize that they cannot get rid of the electoral college through the constitutional process, therefore the end run with state compacts. The "seductive" argument is that it makes every vote equal nationally for the President, i.e., we will never have someone elected President who doesn't win the popular vote. Of course, it completely ignores the basis of our Republic and the concept of federalism.

I agree that the Dems stand the most to benefit from such a scheme, especially given their corrupt, big city political machines that can manufacture votes.

54 posted on 01/29/2007 10:01:38 AM PST by kabar
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To: Michael.SF.

The amount of desperation shown in this whole mess...makes one laugh. If you have to rig up the election and the electoral votes...why bother voting? That should be the final concept to hit Oregon voters...if the national votes dictate the way of your electoral votes...then you might as well stay home. Surely some people are left up there to understand the process of democracy and how this method works. After you study the electoral college for a couple of days...you come to realize the value of it and why we don't want big states determining the election process of the republic.


55 posted on 01/29/2007 10:05:23 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: Tarnsman

I agree with your method. The State Sweepstakes method of assigning Electors is flawed, and the idea of extending that sweepstakes nationwide just compunds the problem.


56 posted on 01/29/2007 10:06:14 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

Stevens, Ginsburg and Breyer will retire if Hillary is the next POTUS. With a slight possibility for Scalia to step down, he's 70 or so, I believe.


57 posted on 01/29/2007 10:06:24 AM PST by MinorityRepublican (Everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: MinorityRepublican

If Ginsburg makes it that long.


58 posted on 01/29/2007 10:24:53 AM PST by Michael.SF. (It's time our lawmakers paid more attention to their responsibilities, and less to their privileges.)
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To: Tatze
I see. Well, since each State can set up its own electoral process, if a State wanted to just defer it's electoral votes to whatever the "majority" of the others do, then the people of the State don't even need to bother to vote....their votes are reflected in whatever the total popular vote of other states are, as the electoral vote is based on mob rule.

Likewise, where States want to ignore the will of their populace in a National election, they can make the law such that the electors are non-committed to the outcome of even that State's popular vote winner, and proceed to split up the electoral votes as a reflection of its popular vote outcome, which assures the Democrats will get electoral votes in every State (equal to about 40% or more of the total state vote) and then let Kalifornia and New York decide in the Socialist's favor EVERY election.

WHAT A PLAN!

Myself, I see some red states then testing whether secession IS Constitutional, as the United States becomes multiple independent 3rd world countries (formerly States), to defend against the over-running of the intent of the Founders in creating this country.

59 posted on 01/29/2007 10:31:17 AM PST by traditional1
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To: wny
"A state could award elector based on the winner of the World Series and it's perfectly legal."

Or vote for the MVP as POTUS, which is how Hollywood/Kalifornia do now.

Constitutional, eh? Well, I'm SURE that's what the Founders would be pleased.

60 posted on 01/29/2007 10:33:20 AM PST by traditional1
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