These pledges fall into two categories-electors bound by State law and those bound by pledges to political parties. Some States, however, require electors to cast their votes according to the popular vote. There is no Constitutional provision or Federal law that requires electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their States. Are there restrictions on who the electors can vote for? They are the only ones who actually vote for President, which they do at the meeting of the electors (the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December). When they vote in the November general election, they aren’t electors yet they are voting for themselves to be electors. Do electors get to vote twice for President?Įlectors do not vote twice for President. This system permits Nebraska and Maine to award electors to more than one candidate. In Nebraska and Maine, the State winner receives two electors and the winner of each congressional district (who may be the same as the overall winner or a different candidate) receives one elector. The winning Presidential candidate's slate of potential electors are appointed as the State's electors-except in Nebraska and Maine, which have proportional distribution of the electors. The potential electors' names may or may not appear on the ballot below the name of the Presidential candidates, depending on election procedures and ballot formats in each State. When the voters in each State cast votes for the Presidential candidate of their choice they are voting to select their State's electors. The second part of the process happens during the general election. (For specific information about how slates of potential electors are chosen, contact the political parties in each State.) They may be State elected officials, State party leaders, or people in the State who have a personal or political affiliation with their party's Presidential candidate. Political parties often choose individuals for the slate to recognize their service and dedication to that political party. This first part of the process results in each Presidential candidate having their own unique slate of potential electors. This happens in each State for each party by whatever rules the State party and (sometimes) the national party have for the process. Generally, the parties either nominate slates of potential electors at their State party conventions or they chose them by a vote of the party's central committee. The first part of the process is controlled by the political parties in each State and varies from State to State. Second, during the general election, the voters in each State select their State's electors by casting their ballots. First, the political parties in each State choose slates of potential electors sometime before the general election. Who selects the electors?Ĭhoosing each State's electors is a two-part process. A State's certification of its electors is generally sufficient to establish the qualifications of electors. This prohibition relates to the post-Civil War era.Įach State's Certificates of Ascertainment confirms the names of its appointed electors. As a historical matter, the 14th Amendment provides that State officials who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or given aid and comfort to its enemies are disqualified from serving as electors. Article II, section 1, clause 2 provides that no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. Constitution contains very few provisions relating to the qualifications of electors. What are the qualifications to be an elector? The Electoral College website now has an easy-to-remember address.
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