My liberal friends told me they think the electoral college will vote

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

however they want, REGARDLESS of how their state voted.

Is that true? They seemed to really believe it. In other words, if their state went for Kerry, electoral college voters are under no obligation to cast their state's votes for Kerry.

True????? Can they just vote however they want with no regard to how the people in their state voted? If so what is the point of having the people vote in the first place???

This can't be true....these friends are terrified bush has already stolen it and I was trying to reassure them....but they think the electoral voters will just do whatever the hell they want and vote for bush.

[ButterflyBlood]

1. um, why would they want to vote for *?

the electors are chosen by the Democratic party, why would they chose * supporters?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. I don't know

I have to admit I didn't know enough to be able to tell them that, but thank you, I will email them and reassure them (they are Kerry supporters).

[JohnKleeb]

2. I think they have to sign an oath

No need to really worry though, the electors are generally well trusted people of the party.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. Ok thanks

my friends live in Austin and you hear quite a bit of consipiracy type stuff there (more than here). That's all I can think happened to them.

[ButterflyBlood]

8. well if they live in Texas it doesn't matter does it?

because their electors aren't voting for Kerry.

[JohnKleeb]

11. seldom does the elector switch alligence

Unless the bushies have infiltrated the dems really well, it wont happen.

[AndyTiedye]

15. More Likely in FLORIDA - The Legislature May Override the Popular Vote

and choose Bush* electors regardless.
They were prepared to do this in 2000.

This could also happen in Ohio, or any other state that is all red
at the state level.

[hobbit709]

3. Electoral College

Technically true. They can, in theory, vote for anyone they please but it's never been done.

[tritsofme]

4. Our electors are diehard Dems like us

That's why they are selected, to be loyal.

This hasn't happened in any meaningful way for many years.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. Whew, thank you

I am going to email them and tell them this. Wish I had known it. They were very upset.

[AuntPatsy]

9. If the Bushies were so sure of a win, they wouldn't have to be

stooping so low in order to attempt to make kerry look foolish, it's okay, they are scared as they should be, even many Repubs are tired of this non conservative spending war machine Bush has made us become...

[LisaL]

10. It could happen.

The people who vote against their party are called faithless electors.
But it's pretty rare.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. Thank you to everyone who replied here!!!!!

I'm sorry to say I am not as self-educated on the electors as I needed to be, but I am now. Thank you again!!! And yes, we are in TX, but there are a hell of a lot of us who are still voting Kerry....we want the percentage of popular vote in TX for Kerry to send a message to the GOP....namely *uck you.

[AuntPatsy]

16. I swear, I meat more Kerry supporters here in Texas everyday...

I'm really suprised that people still keep believing Texas will surely go to Bush, not from what I have seen and heard...

[incapsulated]

13. I heard some conspiracy theory...

That they would basically bribe them into changing their vote. But I don't think that's any serious possibility.

[yardwork]

14. The repukes probably fantasize about bribing electors

What diehard Democrat would accept any amount of money to switch their vote?