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Electoral College

New Jersey no longer cares what how its citizens vote.

Yesterday Governor Corzine signed a law that would have New Jersey’s electors vote for the candidate who has the most popular votes nationally.

That is correct . . . New Jersey’s electorate does not matter.  The national popular vote will decide how the state’s electors in the Electoral College will vote, not how New Jersey’s citizens vote.

New Jersey on Sunday became the second state to enter a compact that would eliminate the Electoral College’s power to choose a president if enough states endorse the idea.Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed legislation that approves delivering the state’s 15 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The Assembly approved the bill last month and the Senate followed suit earlier this month.

This is a reaction to the Democrat Party still feeling Al Gore won the 2000 election.  What it, and apparently the Garden State’s government, does not understand is the popular vote does not elect presidents. Rather, an Electoral College votes for the president.  Citizens when they pull the lever are actually voting for the slate of Electors.  Electors are supposed to vote for whom their constituents have voted.  Occasionally there is a protest vote.  These faithless electors have been few in our history.

New Jersey’s state constitutuion states:

                                     ARTICLE II
                                     ELECTIONS AND SUFFRAGE

                                                SECTION I

            (c)        Any person registered as a voter in any election district of this State who has removed or shall remove to another state or to another county within this State and is not able there to qualify to vote by reason of an insufficient period of residence in such state or county, shall, as a citizen of the United States, have the right to vote for electors for President and Vice President of the United States, only, by Presidential Elector Absentee Ballot, in the county from which he has removed, in such manner as the Legislature shall provide.

This will only take effect if enough states pass similar legislation.

It is absolutely unbelievable to me that our government is attempting to undermine its citizens like this.  But then again, we spent millions of dollars to move our presidential primary from June to February so New Jersey would be more relevant.

How relevant are we though?  No candidates are campaigning here.  And why should they.  On Super Tuesday, candidates will be stretched between New Jersey and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (Dem.), Illinois, Kansas (Dem.), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana (GOP), New Mexico (Dem.), New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia (GOP).

We’ve come a long way from the New Jersey Plan.

Also blogged on this date . . .

• Welcome to Cumberland Pond - 2008
• Corzine Wants More Debt - 2007
• Joe Buck Stupidity of the Day - 2007
• What $88.9 Billion Buys - 2007
• On Geocoins - 2006
• Super Bowl VII - 1973

Tags: 2008-Election, Corzine, Dick-Codey, election, New Jersey, Politics, primary