4.6mn sign petition calling for Electoral College to put Clinton in White House
More than 4.6 million people have signed an online petition to convince members of the electoral college to “ignore” their state’s vote and cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton, in a last-ditch attempt to oust President-elect Donald Trump from the position.
“Hillary won the popular vote. The only reason Trump "won" is because of the Electoral College,” the petition reads.
The petition, which now has gathered more signatures than any other previous Change.org movement, was started by social worker Daniel Brezenoff last month and aims to reach 6 million supporters.
Brezenoff argues that because Clinton won the popular vote, electors from states that voted for Trump, who can legally change their ballot to the Democrat, should back her when the college meets on December 19 to officially vote for the president.
“On December 19, the Electors of the Electoral College will cast their ballots. If they all vote the way their states voted, Donald Trump will win. However, in 14 of the states in Trump's column, they can vote for Hillary Clinton without any legal penalty if they choose,” says Brezenoff.
The extremely unconventional move is necessary, Brezenoff says, because “Mr. Trump is unfit to serve.”
“The Electoral College can actually give the White House to either candidate. So why not use this most undemocratic of our institutions to ensure a democratic result?”
READ MORE: Jill Stein raises $4.5mn for vote recount in swing states
While so-called “faithless electors” have been known to veer from their state’s choice in the past, it has never affected the final result of any presidential election.
More than a dozen states don’t have laws to punish rogue electors, meaning that those electors could vote how they see fit come December 19 – regardless of the public election results.
Former Green Party presidential nominee, Dr. Jill Stein, also made an effort to revisit the election results by raising more than $6 million to fund recounts in swing states Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
