Electoral College Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Census Numbers For Dividing Up U.S. House Seats Delayed Until April 30, Bureau Says

By NPR News January 27, 2021

A U.S. census worker sits in the plaza of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City in September. The Census Bureau announced Wednesday that the first results of the 2020 census are expected to be released by April 30. CREDIT: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and last-minute changes by the Trump administration, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Wednesday that the release of the first results of the 2020 census will likely be delayed by four months. The latest state population counts used to determine each state's share of votes in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College for Read More

Congress Blocks Objections To Election Results, Delayed After Long Day Following Insurrection

By NPR News January 7, 2021

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Vice President Mike Pence officiated as a joint session of the House and Senate worked to confirm the Electoral College votes cast in November's election. Jim Lo Scalzo/AP

The votes came after Congress reconvened hours after violent insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, forcing party leadership to evacuate the scene while rioters overtook the complex. Continue Reading Congress Blocks Read More

Trump Supporters Storm U.S. Capitol, Overtaking Offices; At Least One Person Shot And Killed

By NPR News January 6, 2021

Police with guns drawn face off with protesters trying to break into the House chamber at the Capitol. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The U.S. Capitol was engulfed in chaos on Wednesday, as supporters of President Trump, responding to his call to head there, breached the complex, resulting in violence in the seat of America's federal government. Read More

Washington’s Electoral College Meeting In Olympia Full Of Emotion And Gratitude

By Doug Nadvornick December 15, 2020

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman presides over the state's Electoral College vote in Olympia

Electoral college delegates in all 50 states cast their ballots Monday. In Olympia, Washington’s 12 Democratic electors cast their ballots for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It was an emotional experience for some, including for person running the meeting. Read More

Electoral College Votes: Joe Biden And Kamala Harris Receive Required Number To Win

By NPR News December 14, 2020

Supporters of President-elect Joe Biden hoped the milestone would end President Trump's false allegations of widespread fraud and unsuccessful attempts to overturn the results — but that is unlikely. Continue Reading Read More

Supreme Court Again Rejects Presidential Election Challenge, This Time From Texas Attorney General

By NPR News December 11, 2020

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seen here with President Trump in June in Dallas, sued four states that Joe Biden carried in the general election, claiming their changes to election procedures during the pandemic violated federal law. CREDIT: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued four states that Joe Biden won, claiming their changes to election procedures during the pandemic violated federal law. Continue Reading Supreme Court Again Rejects Read More

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rejects Republican Suit To Throw Out Ballots

By NPR News November 29, 2020

A Luzerne County worker canvases ballots that arrived after closing of voting until Friday at 5 p.m. and postmarked by Nov. 3rd as vote counting in the general election continues, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

One justice writes: "It is not our role to lend legitimacy to such transparent and untimely efforts to subvert the will of Pennsylvania voters." Continue Reading Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rejects Republican Suit To Throw Out Read More

When Will We Know The Winner? Time Frames For Key States; AP Calls Michigan For Joe Biden

By NPR News November 4, 2020

Voters cast ballots at the Park Tavern polling station on Tuesday in Atlanta. Nearly 95% of Georgia's estimated ballots have been reported, but metro Atlanta is currently the holdout area. CREDIT: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Here's how much longer it will take to count the votes in the remaining key states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Continue Reading When Will We Know The Winner? Time Frames For Key States; AP Calls Michigan Read More

Supreme Court Upholds Laws Punishing ‘Faithless Electors’ In Case Involving Washington Voter

By NPR News July 6, 2020

The federal Supreme Court will decide whether Electoral College delegates are required to support the presidential candidate who wins their state.

Monday's decision brought a sigh of relief from election experts, who worried that if Electoral College delegates were free to vote as they chose, the 2020 election would have turned into a free-for-all, with no rules to prevent corruption and manipulation, with delegates offered gifts and even cash for their votes, and blackmail also a possibility. Read More

In Case Featuring Washington, Justices Fear ‘Chaos’ If Electoral College Delegates Have Free Rein

By NPR News May 13, 2020

Under state laws, Electoral College delegates are pledged to cast their ballots for the candidate who carries the popular vote in their state. But in 2016, seven cast votes for other candidates. Continue Reading Read More

Abortion, Guns And LGBTQ Rights On The Docket For Supreme Court’s New Term

By NPR News October 7, 2019

The Supreme Court justices, pictured in November 2018, start a new term on Monday. CREDIT: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Separation of church and state, immigration and questions about impeachment could be on the table this term, which starts Monday and will almost surely be a march to the right on flashpoint issues. Continue Reading Abortion, Guns And Read More

Nevada Poised To Become 15th State To Ditch Electoral College

By NPR News May 22, 2019

The state Senate voted along party lines to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would give the state's six electoral votes to the winner of the presidential popular vote. Continue Reading Nevada Poised To Become 15th State To Read More

Washington Presidential Electors Must Now Follow Their Party (Or Lose Their Seat)

By Paige Browning April 26, 2019

Washington state presidential elector Levi Guerra, center, joined by fellow elector P. Bret Chiafalo , right, announced in 2016 that they'd ask fellow members of the Electoral College to pick a Republican "consensus candidate" rather than Donald Trump. CREDIT: STEVE BLOOM/THE OLYMPIAN via AP

TOP PHOTO: Washington state presidential elector Levi Guerra, center, joined by fellow elector P. Bret Chiafalo , right, announced in 2016 that they’d ask fellow members of the Electoral College… Continue Reading Read More

After Tense Hearing, Oregon Poised To Join National Popular Vote Movement

By Dirk VanderHart April 9, 2019

Election officials across the country have worked hard to prioritize security ahead of November's midterms, but some strategies could have the unintended effect of sometimes making voting harder. CREDIT: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

For the first time, a proposal that Oregon honor the national popular vote in presidential contests got a vote on the Senate floor on Tuesday, passing easily. Continue Reading After Tense Hearing, Oregon Poised To Join National Popular Read More

Electoral College Debate Heads To Washington State Supreme Court Over ‘Hamilton Elector’ Challenge

By Paige Browning January 21, 2019

Three Washington Democrats are arguing to the state Supreme Court why they voted against their party's presidential nominee in the 2016 election. The state fined them $1,000 for not following party rules in voting for Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College. Read More