The Electors Vote
There's just one vote remaining in the presidential election--and you can watch it in Salem on December 15th.
The seven Oregonians who really and truly vote for president of the United States will gather at noon on Monday Dec. 15 in the Oregon Senate Chambers to formally cast their ballots.
The seven are Oregon’s Electoral College delegation, selected for the task when a majority of Oregon voters cast their ballots for Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 elections. They each signed pledges, as required by state law, to vote for their party’s candidate.
The process is simple. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, the state’s chief elections officer, will preside over the meeting. Bradbury, who leaves office in January, will officiate over the gathering for his third and final time.
The seven electors then fill out their ballots, which are signed, sealed, certified and sent to the vice president, the archivist of the United States and other designated federal and state officials.
Oregon’s presidential electors this year are: Michael J. Bohan, Beaverton, Shirley A. Cairns, Oakland, Frank James Dixon, Portland, Bernard Gorter, Milwaukie, John C. McColgan, Joseph, RP Joe Smith, Portland, Meredith Wood Smith, Portland. The event is open to the public but seating in the Oregon Senate gallery is limited.
Discuss.
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Dec. 04, 2008
Posted in in the news. |
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Dec 4, '08
Yeah, that makes sense. The vote of the people isn't the vote of the people until their un-elected representatives vote it.
After electors abdicated their responsibility in 2000, have we forgotten with the majority that we need a Constitutional congress to get rid of them?
7:06 p.m.
Dec 4, '08
this is news, but Wyden backing away from preventing torture isn't?
10:38 p.m.
Dec 4, '08
un-elected representatives
Huh? We voted for them on November 4th - don't you remember?
As for TJ, see Carla's post.
Dec 6, '08
Yeah, they (the electors) were voted on, and won fair and square. I also think it is interesting when electors bolt. The whole "faithless elector" thing is fascinating, especially in close elections like 2000, but I doubt it will mean much in 2008.
I am one of those people who think that the EC is a good thing. Better than just the popular vote. It benefits small states such as Oregon.
Dec 6, '08
So, the fact that you circulate a piece of paper with names on it and tally the results makes it a vote. People do get the government they deserve.
I course it won't mean anything in 2008. Meaning, abandon hope when ye here enter!
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Dec 8, '08
It might be of some interest to know who these people are in respect to their being electors. Chair and opposite sex Vice-chair Democratic Party of OR 1-5 Congressional District DPO Chairs
Dec 10, '08
I wonder how much it would cost to buy their votes. Darn, those people are not corruptible. =(
Dec 11, '08
I am not certain but I believe the electors have sworn to the state of Oregon to vote for the candidate who won the state in the general election. I also believe that they have sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution. What if there were a contradiction? Which oath takes precedence? For instance, if the winning candidate were not qualified for the posittion. Do the electors "assume" the candidate is qualified or do they have a sworn duty to do research to determine if the candidate is qualified? Or would it be glossed over and time to move on?
Vern