Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate.

Monday, December 15, 2008

It's official: Washington State's electoral votes go to Barack Obama and Joe Biden

We knew this was coming, but it's still joyful news. From a news release sent to NPI by the Secretary of State's office:
The 11 members of Washington’s Electoral College today cast their votes for the Democratic ticket of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden.

The state’s Electoral College, reflecting the views of a majority of Washington voters in the November General Election, voted in the State Reception Room of the Legislative Building.

“The Electoral College is a key part of our nation’s process in choosing its President and Vice President,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed, who presided over the voting. “While it doesn’t carry the same excitement as the November 4 popular election, it carries the same impact. Other than a fire alarm that delayed the vote, I’m pleased that today’s event went off without any unpleasant surprises.”

"I am honored to bear witness today to the election of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden," stated Gov. Chris Gregoire. "This historic ceremony, as with Electoral College votes across the country, reflects our dedication to the democratic process and commitment to open and transparent government."

Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of senators and representatives it has in the U.S. Congress. Of Washington’s 11 presidential electors, one is from each of the state’s nine congressional districts, plus two at-large electors.
The eleven electors were selected by the Washington State Democratic Party earlier this year. I witnessed the election of one of these electors... Jafar Siddiqui of Lynnwood, who we chose at the First Congressional District caucus back in May. Representing the other congressional districts:
  • 2nd District: Maggie Hanson of Bellingham;
  • 3rd District: Jane Buchanan-Banks of Vancouver;
  • 4th District: Pat Notter of Wenatchee;
  • 5th District: Marcus Riccelli of Spokane;
  • 6th District: Bradford Donovan of Montesano;
  • 7th District: Lesley Ahmed of Seattle;
  • 8th District: Di Irons of Fall City;
  • 9th District: Calvin Edwards of Spanaway;
... and the at-large electors (who were chosen at the State Democratic Convention) are Kristine Fallstone of DuPont and Matt Daniels of Seattle.

Now that the votes have been cast, a "Certificate of Vote" will be mailed to the District of Columbia (more specifically, to Dick Cheney's office and the U.S. Archivist). Congress is scheduled to tally the votes cast by the members of the Electoral College on January 6th, 2009, a couple of weeks ahead of Barack Obama's inauguration as the Forty Fourth President of the United States of America.

Comments:

Blogger mvymvy said...

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

Every vote would be politically relevant and equal in presidential elections.

The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The bill is currently endorsed by 1,246 state legislators — 460 sponsors (in 47 states) and an additional 786 legislators who have cast recorded votes in favor of the bill.

The National Popular Vote bill has passed 22 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes — 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

December 17, 2008 7:17 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home