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The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver ruled Tuesday that members of the Electoral College have the right to vote freely without bounds

The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver ruled Tuesday that members of the Electoral College, those who cast the actual votes for the President of the United States, have a constitutional right to vote for whomever they see most fit, regardless of state or national popular vote levels. This decision comes as a huge blow for progressive efforts to replace the constitutional electoral college with that of a popular vote. ~

According to The New York Times, the decision came amid a case in which the circuit found that the actions of Colorado’s Secretary of State in 2016 of removing an elector and nullifying his vote, due to the electors refusal to cast his vote for the state and national popular vote winner Hillary Clinton, was unconstitutional because “The text of the Constitution makes clear that states do not have the constitutional authority to interfere with presidential electors who exercise their constitutional right to vote for the president and vice president candidates of their choice.” This ruling has huge implications for the future of how America chooses presidents, for an electoral college bound to the votes of a popular vote may wield significantly different outcomes than an electoral college bound to its own free will. ~

This ruling takes a big hit on organized efforts to challenge the electoral college, which have picked up steam since the 2016 election. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a compact that would commit electoral college voters to voting for the national vote winner, has been adopted by the jurisdictions of fifteen states and the District of Columbia, which accounts for a total of 196 electoral votes. The states that have signed onto the contract consist of Colorado, Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, California, and New York. It is important to note, however, that the compact will only take place if the jurisdictions account for at least 270 votes. On the flipside, many in favor of the electoral college are worried about electors who may “legally defect” and flip their votes weeks after the election takes place (Fox News, 2019). ~

This is Fact Based America – WE have the FACTS, YOU have the OPINIONS. What do you think about the ruling? Do you think the United States should stick to the Constitutional electoral college, or replace it with a popular vote based system?

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