Let’s say you’re a mega wealthy billionaire who has suddenly realized that if he cozies up close to a presidential candidate, he could have more power and wealth than ever before. What’s stopping you from figuring out who the electorates are and offering them whatever they want if they vote for your guy? What’s stopping them from taking the deal?

  • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
    47·
    3 days ago

    Two reasons:

    First, in many states the electors are bound by law to support the candidate that wins the popular vote in their state. The penalties may vary, but the intent is clear: to make sure people realize it is against the law in that state.

    But the second reason is that each campaign actually picks their own electors for each state ahead of time. So it’s not like the state has one set that will vote either way, and who can be persuaded. All of the states that votes for Harris are sending electors their campaign hand-picked, and likewise for Trump. So each side is sending their own very partisan people, whose political success is tied to their party. Violating that will ruin their political career in that party.

    • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
      22·
      3 days ago

      This is all a very convoluted system. What we should do is make it much more simple.

      Take Harris, and trump. Put them in a big venue, like a football stadium, and then fill the ground level with axes and swords, and shields, and maces (the swinging spikey ball kind).

      And just let them go at it until we have a victor.

      Then, that victor has to solve a series of puzzles. If they can, they win.

      I would also accept a revival of the 1990s version of the tv show American Gladiators. Mostly because I love that show.

        • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
          6·
          2 days ago

          A president who wants what is best for his people, seeks out the smartest man on the planet, and puts him in charge of the most challenging problem facing the country?

          Yes. I want president Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho as president.

    • Asafum@feddit.nl
      152·
      3 days ago

      First, in many states the electors are bound by law to support the candidate that wins the popular vote in their state. The penalties may vary, but the intent is clear: to make sure people realize it is against the law in that state

      Honestly this is so stupid if I understand their reasoning for existing in the first place. Unless I’m misunderstanding they were supposed to exist literally for this exact election, where the people elected an absolute atrocity of a person and “our betters” would recognize that and vote against him.

      We should just do away with it if we have no interest in utilizing them for their actual purposes.