Can an elector pledged to vote for a candidate cast his or her vote for someone else?
Yes. Since the first election in 1789, ten electors have decided to vote for a presidential candidate other than the one to whom they were pledged. In 1948, for example, Tennessee elector Preston Parks was pledged to the Democratic candidate, Harry Truman, but instead cast his vote for States’ Rights presidential candidate Strom Thurmond. It didn’t affect the outcome of the election, as Truman won with 303 electoral votes.
A. Yes. Since the first election in 1789, ten electors have decided to vote for a presidential candidate other than the one to whom they were pledged. In 1948, for example, Tennessee elector Preston Parks was pledged to the Democratic candidate, Harry Truman, but instead cast his vote for States’ Rights presidential candidate Strom Thurmond. It didn’t affect the outcome of the election, as Truman won with 303 electoral votes . Q.
Related Questions
- Are Floridas electors, whoever they end up being, obligated to cast their votes for the candidate that won the popular vote in Florida?
- Would Congress count an electoral vote cast for an individual who was not a presidential or vice-presidential candidate?
- Can an elector pledged to vote for a candidate cast his or her vote for someone else?
