WV Republican Elector May Not Cast Ballot For Bush

[displacedyankeedem]

http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2004090817/

Robb's vote may not go to Bush
GOP mayor may use Electoral College
to lodge protest against president

Chris Stirewalt
Daily Mail Political Editor

Wednesday September 08, 2004

South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb said today he may vote against George W. Bush in the Electoral College, even if the president carries West Virginia's popular vote.

Robb, long known as a maverick Republican, said he is considering using his position as one of the state's five Republican electors to protest what he believes are misguided policies of the current administration.

"It's not likely that I would vote for Kerry," Robb said. "But I'm looking at what my options are when it comes time to cast my vote."

State election law dictates that the party of the candidate who wins the popular vote for president gets to send its five electors when the Electoral College convenes in mid-December.

[Indiana_Dem]

1. I wouldn't say that too loud! n/t

[jeff30997]

2. If I was Richie Robb I would not fly in small planes until Nov 3.

[Quetzal]

3. How many scenarios of electoral turmoil are there?

[DianeG5385]

4. Not good news and could be dangerous to Kerry

There may be pressure put on electors especially those of the republican persuasion to not vote for Kerry even if he wins a state. This could spell the end of democracy as we have known it the last 100 years. It could also mean the end of the electoral college if Kerry wins under traditional rules but they try to pull a fast one.

[Jade Fox]

6. The end of the electoral college could be a good thing....

I'm not sure of it, but I'm damn sick of red states having power unequal
to their population.

[expatriot]

5. Remember 1 DC elector withheld her vote from Gore to protest DC statehood

Although I like this particular circumstance with the WV elector, I don't like this 'personalization' of the elector's vote, although the silver lining with this trend could be a wave of disenchantment with the electoral college and its exit.

[nodehopper]

7. as happy as it would make me to take votes from Bush

This is authoretarian and de facto illegal. They are supposed to represent the will of the state...otherwise it would be an election based on 256 people's whims.
What is to stop some Zel Miller-type Republican from pulling shit like that in a Democratinc state?

[kispoko]

8. speakin' of that.....

what in the hell happened to the push to eliminate the electoral college anyhow? some people do still care about that issue..... i think our democratic congressmen and women let us down again.

our entire electoral system is essentially held in the caprices of folks like mr. robb, who could ignore the voters' intentions entirely. and this is democracy?


mind you i think this shit is funny, but the system is entirely wrong, always has been, and not even a tiny sliver of light being tossed in our corner can change that.

[Moderator]

9. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=810729