1. #36721
    The Undying Breccia's Avatar
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    Electors meet to cast their votes: Here's how it works

    Quoting the whole thing.

    Electors are set to meet Monday to officially cast their votes in the presidential race, signaling the coming end of a nearly two-year process that has become mired in controversy.

    The 538 electors will formally vote to make Joe Biden the nation’s president-elect, with Biden projected to garner 306 votes compared to 232 for President Trump.

    The quadrennial meeting is typically a sleepy affair, but it’s been thrust into the national spotlight as Trump rails against the race’s results and he and Republicans launch an array of lawsuits to subvert the election that have been shot down in courtroom after courtroom. Trump has also asked state lawmakers to swap out Biden electors with those who support him, but that effort has flamed out too.

    Here’s what will actually happen when the electors meet.

    What the electors do when they meet

    Federal law sets the Monday after the second Wednesday in December in presidential election years as the date when electors meet.

    The Electoral College delegations will meet in their respective states and the District of Columbia at places that have been designated by their respective state legislatures. There they will vote by paper ballot along the lines of the popular vote winner in their state and then each elector will cast two ballots, one for president and one for vice president. Those ballots are then tallied, after which the vote is certified in "certificates of the vote."

    Six "certificates of ascertainment" are paired with the certificates of the vote. One is sent to the U.S. vice president, two are sent to the state’s secretary of state, two are sent to the archivist of the U.S. and the final one is sent to the judge of the U.S. district court of the district in which the electors met.

    Those certificates must be delivered by the fourth Wednesday in December, which this year is Dec. 23. They will ultimately be brought before Congress on Jan. 6, when Congress declares the election results.

    Who the electors are

    Each state has as many electors as the number of lawmakers in their entire congressional delegations, equaling the total number of the state’s House delegation plus its two senators.

    Electors are most typically chosen either by being nominated at a state party convention or being selected by a state party committee.

    The people chosen are often done so for perceived loyalty to their respective parties and usually are party leaders, state and local elected officials and party activists. Electors cannot be members of Congress or hold any other federal office.

    When ballots are cast, a voter is actually voting for the presidential electors who were chosen by the party of their preferred presidential candidate.

    Is it possible for electors to deviate from the state’s results?

    Electors can deviate from their respective state’s results and vote for someone besides the presidential candidate who won their state. Those who choose to do so are called "faithless electors."

    In 2016, seven electors from the Democratic Party and one elector from the GOP publicly declared to vote for someone other than the pledged nominee at the Electoral College vote.

    However, widespread defections are highly unlikely, and the prospect of there being enough faithless electors to change the outcome of the race is virtually impossible. Several states have laws that impose fines or prison sentences for electors who fail to vote by the state-specified rules.

    Can Trump do anything to stop this?

    The president can try to stop the results from the Monday meeting from taking effect or even change the electors who meet in the first place, but his efforts thus far have been fruitless and are extremely unlikely to pan out.

    Trump has already asked lawmakers in a number of battleground states, like Michigan and Pennsylvania, to swap out Democratic electors for those who support him, though his pressure campaign has so far been unanimously rebuffed.

    The president has also pressed Congress to refuse to certify the results during their January session, and while a handful of House members and at least one senator have expressed openness to the idea, the plan still faces a steep uphill climb to have any chance of handing Trump a second term.
    It's not over yet. It is still possible for a massive treasonous conspiracy, since not all states block or punish faithless electors. But at this point it would need to be a public announcement of such. Somehow, of the 18 states that don't block faithless electors, just the right amount would have to be swayed through Party of Trump legislatures in states that voted for Biden. Then the House would fail to certify of course, it'd go to the "each state gets one" and hand Trump a dictatorship to thunderous applause.

  2. #36722
    I am Murloc!
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    about Congress, Pence and the 6th jan: that's why i asked earlier how a still sitting (for the 14 days left) VP is able to deny the result, if any opportunity arises.
    seems the problem is indeed on the table by now and the shitshow will continue until the bitter end ? tsk tsk tsk

  3. #36723
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    Oh, and before anyone says it's not possible, the White House is publicly admitting they're trying to subvert the election directly and in public.

    Miller, appearing on Fox News as a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, brushed off the idea that the Electoral College vote marked any kind of end to the process.

    "The only date in the Constitution is Jan. 20. So we have more than enough time to right the wrong of this fraudulent election result and certify Donald Trump as the winner of the election," Miller said on "Fox & Friends."

    "As we speak, today, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote and we're going to send those results up to Congress," he continued. "This will ensure that all of our legal remedies remain open. That means that if we win these cases in the courts, that we can direct that the alternate state of electors be certified."

    Miller indicated that Trump supporters will act as "alternates" in a handful of contested states, including Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, to submit their own, unofficial results. Should the Trump campaign succeed in overturning the outcome in any of those states, Miller said, the alternate electors could then be recognized by Congress.
    "What part of the Constitution are these backups mentioned in?"

    Oh, none. This is a coup. The idea is to get a judge to swap out electors to those who will faithlessly vote for Trump, even in stats that prohibit that.

    "Do they have any chance?"

    The fact that they're admitting they're trying in public is the issue here. This is treason. And yes, I assume there's a chance.

  4. #36724
    Quote Originally Posted by Breccia View Post
    Oh, and before anyone says it's not possible, the White House is publicly admitting they're trying to subvert the election directly and in public.



    "What part of the Constitution are these backups mentioned in?"

    Oh, none. This is a coup. The idea is to get a judge to swap out electors to those who will faithlessly vote for Trump, even in stats that prohibit that.

    "Do they have any chance?"

    The fact that they're admitting they're trying in public is the issue here. This is treason. And yes, I assume there's a chance.
    Was he asked why he's a white supremacist in that video?

  5. #36725
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    Quote Originally Posted by Machismo View Post
    Was he asked why he's a white supremacist in that video?
    You mean this video I forgot to link? No. FOX and Friends doesn't ask Team Trump if they're domestic terrorists to their face very often.

    Again, the fact that they're being so open about directly attacking the election is the problem. Seriously, the "when was the last time anyone did this?" well is dry at this point. I would be willing to bet large piles of actual money that Trump has put forth more challenges to a legit, legal federal election than all others combined in my lifetime.

    And none of it, none of it, has had evidence and standing. It's hearsay withing hearsay from a toddler thrashing on the floor screeching NO NO NO NO NO NO NO while doing what we knew he did with Russia in 2016 -- directly attacking the election.

    Trump supporters -- this is your fault. You supported a dictator. The only good news is you failed too.

  6. #36726
    Quote Originally Posted by Breccia View Post
    You mean this video I forgot to link? No. FOX and Friends doesn't ask Team Trump if they're domestic terrorists to their face very often.

    Again, the fact that they're being so open about directly attacking the election is the problem. Seriously, the "when was the last time anyone did this?" well is dry at this point. I would be willing to bet large piles of actual money that Trump has put forth more challenges to a legit, legal federal election than all others combined in my lifetime.

    And none of it, none of it, has had evidence and standing. It's hearsay withing hearsay from a toddler thrashing on the floor screeching NO NO NO NO NO NO NO while doing what we knew he did with Russia in 2016 -- directly attacking the election.

    Trump supporters -- this is your fault. You supported a dictator. The only good news is you failed too.
    I love Trumpsters, alternative facts and alternative reality.

    Trump is a Nazi.

    All those comparisons to Hitler, and other authoritarians continues to ring true.

  7. #36727
    Over 9000! Milchshake's Avatar
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    Woop woop, Hillary casting her electoral vote for Biden has a certain sweetness.



    Gonna make all the reactionaries so salty.

    Speaking of sweet an' salty, i do love these holiday themes Reese's cups.
    Government Affiliated Snark

  8. #36728
    Quote Originally Posted by PresidentElectMilchschake View Post
    Woop woop, Hillary casting her electoral vote for Biden has a certain sweetness.



    Gonna make all the reactionaries so salty.

    Speaking of sweet an' salty, i do love these holiday themes Reese's cups.
    I notice Trump is ahead in the voting. Does that mean he wins, and any late movement towards Biden is totally fraudulent? Do we need a quick chorus of "stop the count" here?
    When challenging a Kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.
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    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
    Quote Originally Posted by Douglas Adams
    It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it... anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

  9. #36729
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    Quote Originally Posted by Huehuecoyotl View Post
    I notice Trump is ahead in the voting. Does that mean he wins, and any late movement towards Biden is totally fraudulent? Do we need a quick chorus of "stop the count" here?
    Stop the Count!!! He will suck your bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooood....
    Folly and fakery have always been with us... but it has never before been as dangerous as it is now, never in history have we been able to afford it less. - Isaac Asimov
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  10. #36730
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    It's a stupid fucking timeline we live in where Michigan Republicans saying they won't overthrow the vote is news.

    But at least that state is saying they won't back a dictator committing treason.

  11. #36731
    Quote Originally Posted by Breccia View Post
    It's a stupid fucking timeline we live in where Michigan Republicans saying they won't overthrow the vote is news.

    But at least that state is saying they won't back a dictator committing treason.
    Even dumber when Republicans will submit alternate slate of Electoral College electors.

  12. #36732
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    Quote Originally Posted by Benggaul View Post
    Trump did win alternative America, using alternative math... so... have at it?
    Folly and fakery have always been with us... but it has never before been as dangerous as it is now, never in history have we been able to afford it less. - Isaac Asimov
    Every damn thing you do in this life, you pay for. - Edith Piaf
    The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. - Orwell
    No amount of belief makes something a fact. - James Randi

  13. #36733
    I love watching Trumpers just lose their shit every week. 'Nothing is official until the votes are certified! 'We want a recount!' 'Nothing is official until the electoral college casts its vote!' 'The electors betrayed the country! 'Nothing is official till Jan 20th!' 'Biden might be in the White House but Trump is in our hearts as the real President!' Get a grip. You lost. It's okay. There will be further opportunities to destroy your own country.

  14. #36734
    Quote Originally Posted by Valkyrst View Post
    I love watching Trumpers just lose their shit every week. 'Nothing is official until the votes are certified! 'We want a recount!' 'Nothing is official until the electoral college casts its vote!' 'The electors betrayed the country! 'Nothing is official till Jan 20th!' 'Biden might be in the White House but Trump is in our hearts as the real President!' Get a grip. You lost. It's okay. There will be further opportunities to destroy your own country.
    How much do you think they will say that Trump is really the President after Jan 20th, and Mar-a-Lago is the new White House?

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Benggaul View Post
    That is North Korea levels of insanity right there.

  15. #36735
    Quote Originally Posted by Machismo View Post
    How much do you think they will say that Trump is really the President after Jan 20th, and Mar-a-Lago is the new White House?
    It's a nigh on certainty.

  16. #36736
    So...Trump supporters and the Trump campaign are functionally acting like they accused Hillary and Democrats of acting like in 2016 when their response was simply to go out and protest peacefully?

    Man, that's kinda weird.

  17. #36737
    Quote Originally Posted by Felya View Post
    Stop the Count!!! He will suck your bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooood....
    FAKE! The Count doesn't suck your blood. He counts things. Maybe they should have The Count actually count the vote total to Trump.

  18. #36738
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edge- View Post
    So...Trump supporters and the Trump campaign are functionally acting like they accused Hillary and Democrats of acting like in 2016 when their response was simply to go out and protest peacefully?

    Man, that's kinda weird.
    Yes, but democrats did it with pussy hats, they do it with AR 15s...

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by gondrin View Post
    FAKE! The Count doesn't suck your blood. He counts things. Maybe they should have The Count actually count the vote total to Trump.
    PizzaGate for life!!!
    Folly and fakery have always been with us... but it has never before been as dangerous as it is now, never in history have we been able to afford it less. - Isaac Asimov
    Every damn thing you do in this life, you pay for. - Edith Piaf
    The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. - Orwell
    No amount of belief makes something a fact. - James Randi

  19. #36739
    I am Murloc!
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    per CNN: 156 Biden 106 Trump at 2pm EST the lead may change often

  20. #36740
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    Quote Originally Posted by ranzino View Post
    per CNN: 156 Biden 106 Trump at 2pm EST the lead may change often
    This is ridiculous... fucking groundhog election...
    Folly and fakery have always been with us... but it has never before been as dangerous as it is now, never in history have we been able to afford it less. - Isaac Asimov
    Every damn thing you do in this life, you pay for. - Edith Piaf
    The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. - Orwell
    No amount of belief makes something a fact. - James Randi

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