a maybe not so crazy idea
Nov. 8th, 2000 05:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pluralUpdate: Please link to http://www.wolfenet.com/~plural - it is our temporary webhome a domain has been registered and we are waiting for DNS servers to catch up - Thanks and sorry about the bold
If Bush takes Florida that will give him enough
Electoral votes (271) to become president
but he will have lost the popular vote
If Gore takes Oregon
that will put him at 267 Electoral votes
just three shy of the 270 needed to win
now technically
the electoral college is supposed
to vote in accordance with the results
of the state balloting
and all but two states have a law
which establishes a winner take all
in respect to the electoral vote
which means whomever wins
the popular vote
for that state gets all of the votes
Now the electoral college
is not required to cast their votes this way
there have been several cases in the past
where a member of the electoral college
has voted contrary to the public vote
In most states
this is perfectly legal
in Washington state
it is a misdemeanor
which carries a $1000 dollar fine
In which case
I think we should all buck up
and agree to pay any related legal costs
for Electors who vote contrary to their state
and in accordance with the popular vote.
So all we have to do
is between now and December 18th
is to convince 4 members of the electoral college
to follow the Popular vote on the national level
instead of their particular states vote
If you live in a State
that went for Bush
go to this link
Electoral College Homepage
Under the first subheading "Electoral Results"
The last listing is "Electoral Votes, by State, listing individual electors:"
with links to the years 1992 and 1996
by Federal law
every state must prepare and file seven "Certificates of Ascertainment"
listing each of the Electors for that state
as soon as election results are finalized for that state
very shortly we should see a link for 2000 appear at the end of that line
which will list by state the names of all the electors
contact your electors
and tell them to support the popular vote
and cast their vote for Gore/Lieberman
If you don't live in a state that went for Bush
call electors from other states
once the list has been posted
I will attempt to gather contact information
for the 538 electors starting with the states that went for Bush
and will post it here
Some of you may want Bush to win
other may just think I am crazy
but I think of it this way
It is only a matter of changing the minds
of four people
people like you or I
and if you assume they follow the national demographic
half of them, when they cast their ballots
voted for Gore
(correction - each party selects a slate of electors equal to the total number of representatives which that state has in both houses of congress, so if the republicans won a state, then all of the republican electors were elected, so we need to convince four republicans to see things our way, a slight increase in difficulty but again it is only 4 people)
And if we succeed
we can say
we altered the course of history
for the most powerful nation on earth
How is that for something to tell your grand kids?
If you agree with my idea
link to it
spread the word
lets start a popular uprising
and make it happen
If you like this idea you can read more of my thoughts on this matter Here
remember
all we have to do
is convince
four people
Update: Please link to http://www.wolfenet.com/~plural - it is our temporary webhome a domain has been registered and we are waiting for DNS servers to catch up - Thanks and sorry about the bold
If Bush takes Florida that will give him enough
Electoral votes (271) to become president
but he will have lost the popular vote
If Gore takes Oregon
that will put him at 267 Electoral votes
just three shy of the 270 needed to win
now technically
the electoral college is supposed
to vote in accordance with the results
of the state balloting
and all but two states have a law
which establishes a winner take all
in respect to the electoral vote
which means whomever wins
the popular vote
for that state gets all of the votes
Now the electoral college
is not required to cast their votes this way
there have been several cases in the past
where a member of the electoral college
has voted contrary to the public vote
In most states
this is perfectly legal
in Washington state
it is a misdemeanor
which carries a $1000 dollar fine
In which case
I think we should all buck up
and agree to pay any related legal costs
for Electors who vote contrary to their state
and in accordance with the popular vote.
So all we have to do
is between now and December 18th
is to convince 4 members of the electoral college
to follow the Popular vote on the national level
instead of their particular states vote
If you live in a State
that went for Bush
go to this link
Electoral College Homepage
Under the first subheading "Electoral Results"
The last listing is "Electoral Votes, by State, listing individual electors:"
with links to the years 1992 and 1996
by Federal law
every state must prepare and file seven "Certificates of Ascertainment"
listing each of the Electors for that state
as soon as election results are finalized for that state
very shortly we should see a link for 2000 appear at the end of that line
which will list by state the names of all the electors
contact your electors
and tell them to support the popular vote
and cast their vote for Gore/Lieberman
If you don't live in a state that went for Bush
call electors from other states
once the list has been posted
I will attempt to gather contact information
for the 538 electors starting with the states that went for Bush
and will post it here
Some of you may want Bush to win
other may just think I am crazy
but I think of it this way
It is only a matter of changing the minds
of four people
people like you or I
and if you assume they follow the national demographic
half of them, when they cast their ballots
voted for Gore
(correction - each party selects a slate of electors equal to the total number of representatives which that state has in both houses of congress, so if the republicans won a state, then all of the republican electors were elected, so we need to convince four republicans to see things our way, a slight increase in difficulty but again it is only 4 people)
And if we succeed
we can say
we altered the course of history
for the most powerful nation on earth
How is that for something to tell your grand kids?
If you agree with my idea
link to it
spread the word
lets start a popular uprising
and make it happen
If you like this idea you can read more of my thoughts on this matter Here
remember
all we have to do
is convince
four people
Update: Please link to http://www.wolfenet.com/~plural - it is our temporary webhome a domain has been registered and we are waiting for DNS servers to catch up - Thanks and sorry about the bold
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-08 11:13 am (UTC)I am not doing this out of support
for a particular candidate
but as I have said before
I honesty dislike both candidates
However I have strong objection to this election
being decided by a minute handful of Florida voters
I understand the rational and the benefits of the electoral system as it was intended
I disagree that the electors are chosen because of their qualifications as well informed voters
From what I have learned, electors both in the Democratic and Republican Camps are often selected
as a mark of distinction for service and dedication to their parties.
I am not trying to force or bribe any elector to come around to my point of view
which is simply that the Popular vote should hold more sway than the vote of a few people in Florida.
I believe very strongly that the electors should vote in line with the national popular vote
a view which you disagree with, and I can see the merits in your views.
I also believe that an elector should not be punished for making a choice
of conscience and voting in line with the national popular vote.
I am saying, and organizing people who agree with my point of view, that
I support any elector that choose to agree with us and act upon their conscience
A republican elector is not going to vote for Gore simply because
I have offered to assist in shouldering the burden of any financial or legal
consequences of that vote. They may however, through an uprising of grass roots
support come to see our point of view and vote accordingly.
As such I do not feel they should be punished for
acting in accordance with their conscience.
a separate note, I have discussed this with my attorneys
and they will be researching it in depth to assure
that this process is done without violating any
state or federal laws. But their initial impression
was that this would not be a violation of law.
I greatly appreciate the time and thought you put into
writing your response. I enjoy greatly enjoy hearing and
discussing differing points of view.
Sincerely
Plural
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-08 01:28 pm (UTC)...however, the idea has merit. Definitely a good plan to pass this around and see who else among us might like it.
Thanx for making an effort at educating us all. I'll remember to look your way when I'm interested in an intelligent perspective on matters political. Take care.
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-08 05:53 pm (UTC)Besides, if you are campaigning against the electoral college and not a particular candidate, your efforts will be fruitless. This is a system that's been in place for years and will continue to stay in place for years to comen (Even if electoral votes are changed and Gore does win)
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-09 11:31 pm (UTC)look at bush.
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-08 05:54 pm (UTC)If you truly are campaigning against the electoral college and not a particular candidate, your efforts will be fruitless. This is a system that's been in place for years and will continue to stay in place for years to come even if electoral votes are changed and Gore does win
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-08 06:34 pm (UTC)Beloth
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-09 05:57 pm (UTC)I am merely executing my constitutional right to lobby elected officials.
Never in the constitution does it say that an elector must vote a certain way. In fact they do not even have to vote for a nominated candidate
According to the constitution, they could elect anyone who meets the eligibility requirements for the office of president. The electoral college could decide to vote for David Letterman, and if he recieved 270 votes, then he and not Bush or Gore, would become president.
Anyone see a problem there?
We have five weeks, until the Electoral College votes and decides who the next president will be.
We do not have time, nor do we have the answers to reform the election process right now.
But we must act, to ensure that our votes are heard, that our votes are listened to.
Re: The Idea of influencing electorals
Date: 2000-11-09 11:33 pm (UTC)