The Electoral College is an undemocratic anachronism. But this isn’t the way to get rid of it.
as wise men who would exercise independent judgment. The best argument against the plaintiffs is everything else under the sun. From the early days of the republic, states have forced electors to side with the winner of the statewide vote. Nothing in the Constitution clearly prohibits this option; to the contrary, it grants states broad power over their electors.
“Those who disagree with your argument,” Justice Samuel Alito told Lessig, “say that it would lead to chaos”—that in a close election, “the rational response of the losing political party” would be “to launch a massive campaign to try to influence electors, and there would be a long period of uncertainty about who the next president was going to be.” Lessig told Alito he did not “deny it’s a possibility,” but it’s one that hasn’t happened yet—and even if it does, that’s the Constitution’s fault.
As that exchange indicates, Lessig’s theory rests on a sleight of hand. He suggests that state control over electors presents authoritarian-style election rigging. But in reality, the states are merely directing electors tothe result of elections. Lessig’s position isn’t democracy-enhancing—it’s democracy-diminishing.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Supreme Court appears poised to let states keep 'faithless electors' out of the Electoral CollegeSeveral Supreme Court justices seemed ready to rule Wednesday that states can penalize presidential electors who fail to fulfill a pledge and vote for a state's popular vote winner in the Electoral College.
Read more »
Garcia leads, but no winner in CA-25Today, the high court will hear a pair of cases on if states can legally bind their electoral college electors to the results in the state: Chiafalo v. Washington and Colorado Department of State v Baca
Read more »
Justices fear ‘chaos’ from rogue Electoral College delegatesRaising the potential of “chaos” in coming presidential elections, the U.S. Supreme Court signals support for several states’ efforts to crack down on rogue Electoral College delegates who cast ballots in defiance of popular vote.
Read more »
Supreme Court seems reluctant to unbind 'faithless electors' who could 'create chaos' in presidential contestsUS Supreme Court justices seemed reluctant Wednesday to tamper with the system America uses to choose its president, based on their comments during oral arguments over the workings of the Electoral College.
Read more »
'Faithless elector': Supreme Court hears cases that could change presidential contestsSCOTUS to take up a 'faithless elector' challenge to the Electoral College, a case with potentially big ramifications for how the U.S. chooses a president.
Read more »