‘Faithless electors’ case shows flaws of Electoral College

Published 1:30 am Monday, July 20, 2020

The Founding Fathers didn’t think it through when they created the Electoral College. What they have done is create a time bomb that will explode at the most inopportune time. The system is vulnerable to manipulation, this is proven by the fact that four electors from this state went “faithless” in 2016. Is a $1,000 fine (or even $1 million) enough to deter a faithless elector?

Each state has its own rules for selecting electors and each has its own rules for enforcement. The federal government has no role in enforcement, but is bound to accept the result from the state as it did in 2016, $1,000 fine or not.

In a close election like that of 2000, a few faithless electors could swing the election one way or the other. My understanding from the recent Supreme Court ruling is that individual states can replace faithless electors if they choose to but what if they choose not to? For example in a state where the popular vote is very close one faithless elector could swing the state (and maybe the country) to the other party if the state legislature chose not to replace the faithless elector. Does this make the Electoral College system vulnerable to last minute bribes and manipulation? Be afraid, be very afraid.

Gary Negley

Mill Creek