What happens if republican controlled State legislatures

[standingtall]

Decide to pass legislation to appoint their own electors. Won't matter for this election, because I'm pretty sure such a move could only be made before an election and not after. However they could for future elections say 2024 and beyond. What happens then?

[drray23]

1. wont happen.

any legislation has to be signed by the governor. Those states have democratic governors. It would be vetoed and go nowhere.

[standingtall]

5. And when they have a republican governor?

Like Arizona and Georgia. Again this referring to future elections not the present won. republicans have lost the poplar vote in 7 of the last 8 Presidential elections. At some point they might get to where they feel like the can never win another election and might be tempted to employ this very procedure sense they have the majority of state legislatures. So I would not just SIMPLY say it wont happen or could not happen.

[Politicub]

2. Then I would imagine the American experiment would come to an end.

What would be the point? The government by the people will have perished from the earth if our votes are nullified, until next time an American-like country emerges.

Then it would be a matter of vultures circling then pecking at the bones.

[Disaffected]

7. Really now,

the US is not the only democracy in the world.

[napi21]

3. They sortof do now. See excerpt below.

Today, the most common method of choosing electors is by state party convention. Each political party’s state convention nominates a slate of electors, and a vote is held at the convention. In a smaller number of states, electors are chosen by a vote of the state party’s central committee.

Either way, political parties usually choose people whom they want to reward for their service to and support of the party. Electors can be elected officials or party leaders in the state, or people who have some kind of personal or professional connection with the party’s candidate.

https://www.history.com/news/electors-chosen-electoral-college

[roamer65]

4. They can't in MI.

It is against our constitution to pass a retroactive law.

[Zambero]

6. That would imply that there was no need to have an election

Voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a candidate. If legislatures were able to freely override the results as determined by the voters in their state, then any election taking place would be a farce from the get-go. I'm sure the neo-fascist GOP would jump at this option, even if it left no doubt as their contempt for the U.S. Constitution and democracy in general.

[peggysue2]

8. Think we need to be focused on what's on our plate at the moment

Instead of worrying about what might happen in the future.

That being said, the way we prevent additional excesses is working like mad to unseat Republicans everywhere, right down to dog catcher level. That means putting in a supreme effort on Georgia's special election, even if the headwinds are against us and following through in 2022, 2024 and beyond.

Is it scary? Yes, it is but we cannot let up.

This really is a fight to the death. The GOP has exposed itself at the core. No more excuses are viable. As I read yesterday (think it was Lincoln Bible's twitter feed), we need to enlist every warrior we can find, from every stripe, every corner. We're fighting for the future now, for our kids and grand babies. We're fighting to preserve our history--the good and the bad--and each and every sacrifice made along the way.

The rot has to be excised, torn out root and branch as McConnell is so fond of saying.

Because we know the answer to: What happens then?

[Me.]

14. Didn't See Your POst Before I Made Mine

We are and have been on worry overload for four years, why more?

[peggysue2]

24. No problem, Me

Focusing on the now is imperative and can't be said enough times.

Because you're right: we don't focus on the now, we won't need to worry about the future. Because it will be completely destroyed. For everyone.

[StarfishSaver]

17. Thank you

The hand-wringing is really tiresome.

[peggysue2]

25. You're welcome

Yes, wearisome at best.

[Towlie]

9. Hopefully, what happens next is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

 
←

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

[Demsrule86]

10. This will be ruled unconstitutional...we need to learn to win with the EC.

[Towlie]

11. No way! If states can do what the OP suggested then they can certainly do this.

 
←
 
And this IS winning with the EC.

[struggle4progress]

12. The constitution requires all electors be chosen on Election Day. If the states decide how

that is done, they can't choose differently after Election Day

[standingtall]

15. Again I was referring to future elections not this one

Let's say one election cycle Texas finally flips to Democrats, but republicans still have the governor and a majority of state legislatures. So they decide to appoint their own electors for the next election. Sense republicans likely cannot win the Presidency without Texas. What then?

[dansolo]

20. You don't understand the process

There are two sets of electors, and they are selected by each party. The election is to determine which set of electors get to vote for president. The legislature doesn't choose the electors.

[DrToast]

26. I don't think you do

States have the right to determine how electors are chosen for the electoral college. There is no requirement that there be a popular vote to determine them. As long as they decide before election day, a state legislature could simply choose which electors represent the state.

[standingtall]

27. State legislature don't appoint electors because state laws don't currently permit it

Who makes state laws? State legislatures do. They can repeal laws and implement new ones. My understanding that under the constitution it is technically permissible for State legislatures to appoint their own electors if decided before election day. We need a plan for this if and when it ever happens instead of just assuming everyone is going to operate in good faith.

[Me.]

13. So We Don't Have Enough To Worry About Right NOw

and need more angst?

[standingtall]

16. The stuff that is going on now has exposed the holes in our system

and we need worry about what can happen in the future.

[Me.]

18. What We Need To Worry About Right NOw

is getting our president in office, a pandemic and the wreck of a government we're going to be left with and on and on. And, by the way, if we don't focus on the now we may not have a future to worry about.

[standingtall]

29. We need a plan to keep our President in office too once he gets there

Trump is not likely that last republican who is ever going to pull these stunts and because of the damage he has done the next autocrat may get further than he did with it.

[Me.]

31. Well...

What I'm going to concern myself with is what I said above and then getting Dems elected to other offices and that will take care of the problem..

[lindysalsagal]

19. I actually DO move to canada.

[brooklynite]

21. What happens then is it happens...

The Constitution leaves it up to each State to decide how to select Electors; citizens have no Constitutional right to vote directly. However, to do so would be so controversial that they'd be risking their own re-election.

[Rice4VP]

22. How are they going to pass legislation in 2 weeks?

[MineralMan]

23. Most state legislatures are not even in session right now.

In many states, like Minnesota, there have been new members elected this year.

Besides, most states don't enact legislation that goes into effect immediately, and never retroactively.

It's important to know how this all works, I think.

[standingtall]

30. Again I was referring to future elections

not past or present ones.

[dawg]

28. If we can all show up to vote for Joe Biden ...

we can all show up to vote for Democratic state representatives. We ought to be doing so anyway.

Do that, and we get the electoral votes either way.