Trump and Clinton
BAZAAR
Update, 11/15: The petition has accrued more than four million signatures. Read it—or sign it—here.
Original Post, 11/11: In fewer than 24 hours, an online petition asking the Electoral College to elect Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump for president of the United States has amassed over two million signatures.
"Mr. Trump is unfit to serve," the petition argues.
"His scapegoating of so many Americans, and his impulsivity, bullying,
lying, admitted history of sexual assault, and utter lack of experience
make him a danger to the Republic."
"Secretary
Clinton won the popular vote and should be president," it continues.
"The only reason Trump 'won' is because of the Electoral College. But
the Electoral College can actually give the White House to either
candidate. So why not use this most undemocratic of our institutions to
ensure a democratic result?"
As
the petition explains, despite Clinton winning the popular vote on
Tuesday, Trump was ultimately able to secure more electoral votes, thus
making him the winner and 45th president-elect. But technically, the
Electoral College doesn't vote until Dec. 19, and the electors have the
power to choose Clinton instead of Trump — thus overturning the
"results" of the election.
Specifically, those who have signed the petition are asking some electors to vote against
their states in order to make Clinton the winner. But even if the
petition reaches its goal of three million signatures, which it is
definitely on track to do, it's still highly unlikely the Electoral
College will vote Clinton into office.
Historically,
99 percent of electors in the Electoral College have "voted as
pledged," and those who haven't have never actually made enough of a
difference to sway an election. As the Independent Review Journal
so eloquently explains it, "The last time an elector voted against his
pledge was in 2004, when one elector voted for John Kerry's running
mate, John Edwards, instead of Kerry. His vote, like the votes of every
other faithless elector in American history, had no effect on the
outcome of the election."
The
other big reason why the Electoral College might decide not to vote
against Trump is, perhaps, more obvious: In some states, it is illegal
for an elector not to vote as pledged — but as critics of the petition
argue, a fine pales in comparison to how Trump and his supporters might
react if electors were to vote against him after he's already "won."
But
the message the petition sends is nonetheless an important one, and
further highlights just how many people are shocked, terrified, and
angry about the results of this election. It is also an empowering
reminder of the importance of democracy, and yet another reminder of how
important it is to make your voice heard at the polls.
To read more about the petition or sign it, you can click here.
From:
Cosmopolitan
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