Do citizens have a right to vote in presidential elections?
“Not necessarily. Article II of the Constitution reads in part: “Each state shall appoint, such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors…” In other words, it is the state legislature and not the citizens of a particular state that determine which presidential candidate receives that state’s electoral votes. In the early decades of the country, several state legislatures actually appointed electors to the Electoral College, rather than hold popular elections in their state. In the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, five justices declared, “The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College.” The Court went on to say that Florida’s legislature has the power to take that power away from the people at any time, regardless of the popular vote tally.
In addition, it took a constitutional amendment in 1961 to enable residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president. But the millions of American citizens living in territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam still cannot vote for president.” I have misplaced the source for that information and take no credit for the authorship of that piece.
What it talks about is our representative form of governance, our constitutional republic. That is the reason for the electoral college, to ensure equal representation. It is the decision of the states to determine how electors are chosen. Territories get no electors in the electoral college. The electoral college decides presidential elections in accordance with Article II of the constitution.
So when I hear about this notion of doing away with the electoral college I have to say, not so fast! Each state deserves equal representation. The only way to ensure that is through the electoral college. California is the most populous state. In fact, it has a population higher than the 21 states with the least population combined! California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pa. would determine the president every single time without that system in place.
Interesting information isn’t it? I’m betting that it isn’t taught in civics classes in grade school anymore. While I hear so any explaining their “constitutional rights” I wonder how they missed that part of the constitution? It plainly says, “each state shall appoint electors” and that is exactly what it means. If you are being allowed to vote for those electors it is because the state is allowing you to do so. It isn’t a constitutional right! Bet you didn’t know that.
An aging man living in a confusing world. I was born and raised in East Hampton, yes “the Hamptons” but not rich, not famous and definitely not woke. These are my thoughts, my memories and my opinions. Just the stuff of the regular Joe.
Do citizens have a right to vote in presidential elections?
“Not necessarily. Article II of the Constitution reads in part: “Each state shall appoint, such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors…” In other words, it is the state legislature and not the citizens of a particular state that determine which presidential candidate receives that state’s electoral votes. In the early decades of the country, several state legislatures actually appointed electors to the Electoral College, rather than hold popular elections in their state. In the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, five justices declared, “The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College.” The Court went on to say that Florida’s legislature has the power to take that power away from the people at any time, regardless of the popular vote tally.
In addition, it took a constitutional amendment in 1961 to enable residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president. But the millions of American citizens living in territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam still cannot vote for president.” I have misplaced the source for that information and take no credit for the authorship of that piece.
What it talks about is our representative form of governance, our constitutional republic. That is the reason for the electoral college, to ensure equal representation. It is the decision of the states to determine how electors are chosen. Territories get no electors in the electoral college. The electoral college decides presidential elections in accordance with Article II of the constitution.
So when I hear about this notion of doing away with the electoral college I have to say, not so fast! Each state deserves equal representation. The only way to ensure that is through the electoral college. California is the most populous state. In fact, it has a population higher than the 21 states with the least population combined! California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pa. would determine the president every single time without that system in place.
Interesting information isn’t it? I’m betting that it isn’t taught in civics classes in grade school anymore. While I hear so any explaining their “constitutional rights” I wonder how they missed that part of the constitution? It plainly says, “each state shall appoint electors” and that is exactly what it means. If you are being allowed to vote for those electors it is because the state is allowing you to do so. It isn’t a constitutional right! Bet you didn’t know that.
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Do citizens have a right to vote in presidential elections?
“Not necessarily. Article II of the Constitution reads in part: “Each state shall appoint, such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors…” In other words, it is the state legislature and not the citizens of a particular state that determine which presidential candidate receives that state’s electoral votes. In the early decades of the country, several state legislatures actually appointed electors to the Electoral College, rather than hold popular elections in their state. In the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, five justices declared, “The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College.” The Court went on to say that Florida’s legislature has the power to take that power away from the people at any time, regardless of the popular vote tally.
In addition, it took a constitutional amendment in 1961 to enable residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president. But the millions of American citizens living in territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam still cannot vote for president.” I have misplaced the source for that information and take no credit for the authorship of that piece.
What it talks about is our representative form of governance, our constitutional republic. That is the reason for the electoral college, to ensure equal representation. It is the decision of the states to determine how electors are chosen. Territories get no electors in the electoral college. The electoral college decides presidential elections in accordance with Article II of the constitution.
So when I hear about this notion of doing away with the electoral college I have to say, not so fast! Each state deserves equal representation. The only way to ensure that is through the electoral college. California is the most populous state. In fact, it has a population higher than the 21 states with the least population combined! California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pa. would determine the president every single time without that system in place.
Interesting information isn’t it? I’m betting that it isn’t taught in civics classes in grade school anymore. While I hear so any explaining their “constitutional rights” I wonder how they missed that part of the constitution? It plainly says, “each state shall appoint electors” and that is exactly what it means. If you are being allowed to vote for those electors it is because the state is allowing you to do so. It isn’t a constitutional right! Bet you didn’t know that.
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