[Leica] Today - was Tomorrow

[MCyclWritr at aol.com (MCyclWritr@aol.com)]

Thanks for this astute explanation of the electoral process in  our 
Constitutional Republic. We in Colorado are now aware of  intended sleight 
of hand 
embodied in casting electoral votes  proportionally. Given the nature of the 
state's political make-up, it would  give Colorado's nine electoral votes 
the net 
effect of a single,  measely vote. As in five versus four, leaving a 
difference 
of  one. Talk about turning us into a girlie state. Oh, and the promoter 
wrote  the amendment to be retroactive to include this current election. 
Crafty  
devil. 
 
The interesting part of this proposed amendment is that it was put on our  
ballot by a California political booster (a Democrat). Curious that he  
didn't 
choose to test his electoral scheme with 55 electoral votes of  his home 
state, 
a state so heavily Democrat it is nearly a socialist  country unto itself. 
 
-Chris Lawson   
 
abridge@gmail.com writes:

The vote  for President in the United States isn't "one man, one vote"
and thus the  winner of the popular vote wins. Instead each state
elects a slate of  electors designated to the candidate on the ballot.
The number of electors  for each state is the sum of representatives
and senators for that state.  Thus California, at 55, has the largest
number and Wyoming has 3. Some  states are choosing to determine the
number of electors sent to the  electoral college by giving a
percentage of the popular vote. I believe  Maine does this and it's on
the ballot in Colorado. The Constitution  doesn't tell the several
states how to determine the makeup, just WHEN: the  first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November.

There are  movements for ammendments to the Constitution to change this
but I can't  see them passing any time soon. It re-inforces the fact
that the United  States is a REPUBLIC and not a true democracy.

We could, as my wife  says, get the full lesson since in the event of a
tie in the electoral  college the House of Representatives will choose
the President on the basis  of one vote per state. The Senate votes to
choose the VP.

Oh - note  that the electors are essentially free agents. They can
choose to vote how  they wish. So if the apparent elected president is
killed or incapacitated  before they meet...well...then things get
REALLY interesting.

I  don't believe I have ever met an elector from any state. They are
high up  in the political party and I don't climb in that atmosphere.

Hope this  helps and if I get any of it wrong I'm sure someone will correct  
me!