Why Trying to Flip Electors Is a Bad Idea

[DonViejo]

December 19, 2016By Taegan Goddard

Nate Silver: “At the risk of engaging in a hit-and-run argument, I wanted to go on record to say that I think this is a bad idea. My reasons are best encapsulated in this tweetstorm by the political scientist Matt Glassman, who notes that there is a strong precedent toward electors abiding by the vote in their states. Other than a few one-off cases like Leach, the historical norm has been that electors stick with the voters’ choice unless the candidate died, as in the case of Greeley or the losing vice presidential candidate James S. Sherman in 1912.”

“Furthermore, as Glassman notes, it’s not at all clear what the upside for Democrats would be. This year, narrowly denying Trump a majority in the Electoral College would still probably result in Trump’s election via the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, producing the same president but with a Constitutional crisis along the way. And in the long run, encouraging electors to deviate from the outcomes in their states would result in the House more often deciding presidential elections, which is probably not in Democrats’ interests given how their voters are clustered — and gerrymandered — into urban congressional districts.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2016/12/19/trying-flip-electors-bad-idea/

[Orsino]

1. So trying to undo a Trump win might trigger a Constitutional crisis?

A Trump presidency will consist entirely of Constitutional crises.

[duffyduff]

3. There are ways to remove him.

Unfortunately, the EC can't really do it. Any third party is illegitimate.

[PoliticAverse]

2. So many people throw out the term "Constitutional Crisis" when there clearly isn't one

and wouldn't be one in the posited scenario.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Ok

Is it in our national interest to have Electors throwing elections into the House of Representative? It's a procedural safeguard for our government in the event that a candidate doesn't get 270 EVs but I thought that that would only come into play on Election Day. Not sure a scenario where the Electors go rogue, resulting in a decrease in EVs. The votes have been cast and DT was declared the winner of 270+ Evs. He is the President-elect according to the Constitution. We all agree that Trump is going to be walking dumpster fire. No doubts whatsoever. But if we get electors to flip and/or throw the election into the House now with Trump (which will still result in a Republican President and perhaps one that won't be as divisive, which will make running against them in 2018 and 2020 harder), Republicans will try to do it the next time (and yes, there WILL be a next time) we win the EC Vote. Do we want to start down this road? I submit that we should not.