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Edited on Thu Dec-09-04 06:00 PM by Karenca
Can we pull this off if all else fails?
Presidential Electors who have defected in the past: THE "FAITHLESS EIGHT
2000: Barbara Lett-Simmons, District of Columbia Elector for: Gore (Democrat) instead cast a blank ballot. Note: Ms. Lett-Simmons cast a blank ballot to protest what she called D.C.'s "colonial status".
1988: Margaret Leach, West Virginia Elector for: Dukakis (Democrat) instead voted for: Lloyd Bentsen (Dukakis' running mate) Note: Ms. Leach cast her Vice Presidential vote for Dukakis instead of Bentsen as well.
1976: Mike Padden, Washington Elector for: Ford (Republican) instead voted for: Ronald Reagan (challenged Ford's GOP nomination) Note: Mr. Padden did, however, vote for Ford's running mate, Robert Dole; Dole thus became the only Vice Presidential candidate to receive more Electoral Votes than the top of the national ticket on which he was running.
1972: Roger L. MacBride, Virginia Elector for: Nixon (Republican) instead voted for: John Hospers (Libertarian) Note: Mr. MacBride was the Libertarian candidate for President four years later- in 1976.
1968: Lloyd W. Bailey, North Carolina Elector for: Nixon (Republican) instead voted for: George Wallace (American Independent) Note: This led to the (so far) only time the provisions of 3 U.S.C. 15 re: an Electoral Vote not "regularly given" was dealt with formally by Congress. Objections were raised by a number of Senators and Congressmen to the counting of North Carolina in the tabulation Joint Session of the 91st Congress (6 January 1969)- the two houses immediately "rose" to debate and vote separately and "concurred" that Dr. Bailey's vote should be counted as cast, after which the tabulation Joint Session resumed to complete counting the Electoral Vote of the 1968 Presidential Election. It is this result which has been since deemed to have legitimized the "Faithless Elector"- that is, since Congress once actually voted on the issue, it would be hard to claim a "Faithless Elector" had somehow violated Federal law (though, of course, Congress retains the power not to accept a "faithless" Electoral Vote under 3 U.S.C. 15).
1960: Henry D. Irwin, Oklahoma Elector for: Nixon (Republican) instead voted for: Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. (supported by "Unpledged" Democrats)
1956: W.F. Turner, Alabama Elector for: Stevenson (Democrat) instead voted for: Walter B. Jones, an Alabama judge.
1948: Preston Parks, Tennessee Elector for: Truman (Democrat) instead voted for: Strom Thurmond (State's Rights <"Dixiecrat">)
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