[EM] Nader could designate same electors as Kerry

[John Hicks]

On Wednesday 30 June 2004 11:20 am, MIKE OSSIPOFF 
wrote:
...
> So there's sure to be an argument that that
> same-electors arrangement is illegal. 
> If so, then the wording of the Consititution 
> should be checked out. 
> Maybe it says that a candidate can designate
> any electors s/he wants to.

By luck, and through sources that I dare not name, I 
have been given access to a copy of the document in 
question and am thus able to answer your question:

It turns out that it doesn't say anything about a 
candidate designating electors at all. Rather . . .

"Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the 
Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, 
equal to the whole Number of Senators and 
Representatives to which the State may be entitled in 
the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or 
Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the 
United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

So it is up to the legislature of each state to 
determine a method of appointing its electors.

I would think that one would have to look at the 
relevant legislation in each state to determine if the 
"same-electors" approach would work in that state. My 
gut tells me that it's unlikely it could be pulled off 
in all 50 states but it just might be possible in one 
or two states. 

And that alone would make for a very interesting election 
night.

John Hicks