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Electoral College Meets Monday In State Capitols Across The Country

BY CHRIS LEHMAN

Salem, OR  December 14, 2008 6:16 p.m.

You probably thought Barack Obama was elected President last month.  But if you want to be Constitutional about it, Monday is the day that Barack Obama is officially elected President.  

That’s because members of the Electoral College are meeting in state capitols across the country to formally cast their ballots.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman has more.


The outcome of this election isn’t really in doubt.  The electors have each pledged to vote the same way as the majority of their respective states.  

That means 11 votes for Barack Obama in Washington and seven votes for him in Oregon.  Idaho’s four Electoral College votes are pledged to John McCain.

In Olympia, a big ceremony is planned including a speech by Governor Chris Gregoire.  

A more low key gathering is planned in Salem.  That’s in part because Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury isn’t a big fan of the Electoral College.

Bill Bradbury:  “I actually am now to the point where I really think we should really move to just a popular vote system for electing the President and kind of get rid of this anachronism.”

The actual voting process is quick.  Electors simply fill out a form.  The ballots are then sealed and sent off to Congress. 

© 2008 OPB

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Comments

December 12, 2008
5:31 p.m.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). Every vote would be politically relevant and equal in presidential elections. The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The National Popular Vote bill has passed 22 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes — 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect. See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

— Posted by mvymvy


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