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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHead of Pennsylvania GOP ADMITS he's spoken to trump campaign about appointing state electors!!
Report: Trump Campaign Actively Discussing Radical Measures To Bypass Election Results
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/09/23/report-trump-campaign-actively-discussing-radical-measures-to-bypass-election-results/#6fb91cc24800
The Atlantic report claims that sources in the Republican Party at the local and national levels confirm the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in red battleground states.
The push to appoint electors would be framed in terms of protecting the peoples will, an unnamed Trump-campaign legal adviser tells The Atlantic, adding, The state legislatures will say, All right, weve been given this constitutional power. We dont think the results of our own state are accurate, so heres our slate of electors that we think properly reflect the results of our state.
The chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party says, on the record, that he has discussed appointing loyal electors with the Trump campaign: "It is one of the available legal options set forth in the Constitution.
Unconscionable! Absolutely beyond the realm of sanity!
These cretins DO NOT CARE about democracy!
NameAlreadyTaken
(958 posts)It's only about grabbing power and holding onto it. Even treason is inconsequential to them.
agingdem
(7,756 posts)you know the Biden/Harris legal team is ten steps ahead of this...every kind of lawyer..constitutional, election protection, campaign, voting rights, criminal... former high court judges...thousands are working with the Biden campaign...Trump and Barr have been broadcasting this crap for months...they can't keep their mouths shut...focus everyone!
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)and all elections are cancelled. I will tell you if this even attempted prices will be paid
Zoonart
(11,748 posts)THEY ARE PLANNING TO NULLIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS!
Just wow...any constitutional scholars out there that know what our options are to block this?
Mme. Defarge
(7,981 posts)The head of the PA GOP has the authority to appoint the states electors?
Roland99
(53,342 posts)not sure the composition of the state legislature nor court
EDIT: Republicans have a majority in the PA Senate *and* House
42bambi
(1,753 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)how to choose. Constitution merely says that state legislators set it all up.
So, to pull this off, they would have Red states appoint Republican electors. Entirely legal, if scummy.
But, that's not ll they are trying. They are desperate, and the pity of it all is that the public is ignorant enough to fall for it.
Roland99
(53,342 posts)yellowcanine
(35,692 posts)Can't change them now just bc they don't t like the result.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)YessirAtsaFact
(2,064 posts)I could see a boatload of court cases trying to invalidate individual ballots if the results are close, but the rules for selecting electors are set.
Rule of Claw
(500 posts)If the original method of popular vote was signed off by the Governor, so too must be any adjustments to it. Otherwise why wouldn't they have done that a long time ago?
Just pass a resolution and tell them we have the power. No-rather I think any rational person would find that legislature also means Governor.
In a state with a Republican Governor however? Maybe. Still doubtful.
Salviati
(6,002 posts)The US Constitution doesn't specify what those laws are, but the states DO.
Appointing electors that override elections results would almost undoubtedly break state laws.
dansolo
(5,376 posts)Changing the electors after an election would be an ex post facto law, which is explicitly prohibited by the Constitution.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)When Bush v. Gore was working its way through the courts, the Florida Legislature had serious discussions about just appointing electors. I have no doubt that several ones in the country would do this in 2020. However, it could be the basis for Congress not accepting the results of the EC and challenging it in both houses. And this would be of the NEW congress, not the current one.
Midnight Writer
(21,546 posts)They call it a Capitalist Republic. They claim the Framers never intended it to be a Democracy.
And as usual, the Hate Talk to policy pipeline is flowing strong.
Lonestarblue
(9,878 posts)and the majority is not legally allowed to institute majority rule. Thats why theyre so against the popular vote, because they cant game the system as easily. We have an uphill battler,,but we really need to focus on state legislatures and governorships. Lets start with Texas!
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)"How Are Electors Chosen?
Pennsylvania: By presidential nominee
The presidential nominee for each party nominates electors to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. The vice presidential nominee may be asked to nominate electors at the presidential nominees discretion."
https://electoralvotemap.com/how-are-electors-chosen/
bucolic_frolic
(42,663 posts)A democracy will not take this abuse very long. I just think people will be outraged.
BadgerMom
(2,766 posts)Some commenters state its all legal and can occur. Others feel the slate of electors is set. If state legislators can overturn the popular vote and the electoral college is not just a rubber stamp, but determinant we have never been a democracy. Those who believe their vote doesnt matter are correct then.
Are we being told this is true? What can individuals DO? Im usually okay at shrugging off the doom. Today, not so much.
Salviati
(6,002 posts)Everyone seems to be freaking the fuck out, because the US constitution does not specify what those laws are, but instead leaves them up to the states. But the states DO have laws as to the procedure for selecting electors, and to just selecting a bunch of party hacks, regardless of the election outcome, is going to almost certainly break those laws in every case (I have not personally looked up the election laws in every state...)
BadgerMom
(2,766 posts)Thats helpful
judesedit
(4,437 posts)voted or they can be penalized? Just curious if that helps us.
dansolo
(5,376 posts)The funny thing is that the conservatives were probably more concerned about faithless electors voting against Trump.
Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)The fact that he is even thinking about such a thing needs to become a major campaign issue.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)then secession by disenfranchised states should be acted upon. There are more democratic forms of governance.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)if this course of action is taken. There may be violence, for sure, but the repiggies may be on the losing end. Millions of Liberals, many millions, are gun owners with decades of training. So.......... we shall see.
2naSalit
(86,048 posts)roamer65
(36,739 posts)The state legislatures can do it in the manner they direct. It only mentions state legislatures, not governors.
They literally could ignore any laws they have passed on elector appointment up until that point. Lawsuits would ensue, but the latitude given them by the Constitution is very wide.
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/article/article-ii
dansolo
(5,376 posts)Changing how electors are selected after an election occurs would be an ex post facto law, which the Constitution prohibits.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)It also depends on the particular states laws.