Commentary On Elections-Part Six (Session One)

Commentary On Elections-Part Six (Session One)

Getting back to the topic of electors for POTUS and VPOTUS, it must be noted that according to the US Constitution Article II, Section 1, Clause 2, the state legislatures are to legislate how electors are to be appointed in each state by each state. 

Yet since at least the turn of the 20th century, this constitutional law has not been applied when it absolutely has to be applied. Presently the winning candidate or his/her political party choose the electors who in turn vote for the President and Vice-President in the state capitol. The current practice makes no sense as obviously a candidate and/or his/her political party will not choose an elector who will not vote for him/her. The constitutional purpose is for electors' choices to be independent of the state legislatures as well as of political candidates. That is why the second part of Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 was passed. It prohibits electors who held any office of trust and profit from serving as elector.  

Cliff  Notes Version: The U.S. Constitution came up with the system of electors so that the choice for President and Vice-President would not be dependent on the will of governmental branches nor on the direct will of the general electorate. It was a compromise. If government officials or a popularly elected POTUS/VPOTUS candidate heavily influence how these electors will choose the state's choice for these positions, there is no independence.