Yet Another Problem...
Even with the matter of a Democratic legal challenge out of the way, the matter of the next president is still undecided.
On December 18, 2000, the 538 members of the Electoral College are required to meet in their separate states. Each of them has been selected because of loyalty to his or her political party, and about half of the states have laws requiring the electors to vote for that state's winner.
But this year, the circumstances are extraordinary -- the expected Electoral College decision counters the popular vote. All it would take is a handful of electors -- either ten or three, depending on the final decision in Oregon -- to switch from Bush to Gore, and Gore would be elected president.
And because we live at the beginning of the Information Age, it is possible for the first time for Electoral College members in different states to find each other. (Here, for instance, is one list of the electors.)
And so, an irate elector sitting in her office in California decides she is going to do something never before done in U.S. history. She does a few Internet searches and gets the names and phone numbers of electors from states that voted for Bush. She pleads with these Bush electors: "Please, listen to voice of the American people! I know you're conservatives, I know you don't like Gore, but the American people wanted him to be president. Let's give them what they want."
She doesn't have to convince all of them, just a few.
| Does she convince enough Bush electors to switch over to Gore? |
(1) NO. Despite the California elector's efforts, the Bush electors take their pledges seriously. Following the decision in their states, they cast their votes for George W. Bush. Click here to continue.
(2) YES. With her stunning rhetoric and her appeal to their democratic sensibilities, the California elector has managed to convince more than enough Bush electors to move over to the Gore side. Click here to continue.
(3) A THIRD OPTION. The California elector manages to convince a few of the electors to switch to the Gore side, but not enough to make it a Gore win. In fact, thanks to her efforts, the Electoral College is tied! Bush and Gore each have 269 votes. Click here to continue.