Enabling Legislation Suggestion | Independent Electors

Sample Legislation enabling election of Independent Electors

In order to provide every voter of THIS STATE the maximum influence on the choice of the President of the United States and consistent with Article II of the US Constitution, we hereby establish the following procedures for selection of the Electors to the Electoral College to which THIS STATE is entitled. The overarching principles upon which these procedures are based are local representation, independence from outside influence, expression of the will of the people, and transparency,

Eligibility

Electors must be registered voters of THIS STATE.

Electors may not hold an office of trust or profit in the United States or in THIS STATE. For purposes of this article any federal, state, county, or municipal agency represented by less than 25% of the constituency of the electoral district of the Elector is exempt from this requirement.

Schedule

In order to reduce outside influences the selection process will be carried out expeditiously and transparently.

First Tuesday of August – Candidates may begin collection of signatures to petition to have their names included in the primary election of Electors. Signatures may be collected on paper or digitally as specified by law.
First Tuesday in September – All candidates submitting a certified petition with at least 100 signatures of qualified voters will be placed on the ballot for the primary election. Names will be placed on the ballot in a randomly selected order and will contain only the name of the candidate.
First Tuesday in October – A primary election will be held in which all eligible voters of the Electoral district will be eligible to vote. The vote will be by Ranked Choice Voting. Each voter will choose in order of preference from first to fourth their preferred candidate for Elector. The candidates receiving the top four numbers of votes will move on to the general election.
First Tuesday after the first Monday in November (US general election for President) -All eligible voters will be eligible to vote. . Candidate names will be placed on the ballot in a randomly selected order and will contain only the name of the candidate. The vote will be by Ranked Choice Voting. Each voter will choose in order of preference from first to fourth their preferred candidates for Elector. The first candidate to receive more than 50% of the number of votes cast shall be the Elector.
First Tuesday after the second Wednesday of December – Electors cast their ballots for president and vice-president and submit them to the president of the US Senate. Their duties are complete and they are released from their positions.

Compensation

The government of THIS STATE will provide reasonable compensation for the work of the Electors but Electors will not be employees of THIS STATE and will not be entitled to any other benefits of employment to which THIS STATE’s employees are entitled.

Electors will be provided with office space, administrative support, and access to communications and internet access sufficient for them to communicate with others and to research and analyze information.

Transparency

Votes cast for president and vice-president and all communication and documentation, whether oral, visual, printed, or digital, that is generated during their term office shall be available to the public in real time.

Appropriate provision to protect the privacy of the Elector will be provided by THIS STATE to prevent harassment or unwanted influence of the Elector. The Elector is not obligated to grant interviews to any person in any capacity but is free to communicate with any person of the Elector’s choosing.

Independence

Electors will be free to cast their votes in the Electoral College as they choose.

Restrictions

Neither an Elector nor his family or friends may accept any cash, gifts, services, items of value, or promises of future benefits such as employment that may be reasonably perceived as being given to influence the Elector’s vote for President.

For two years following completion of their service as an Elector, Electors may not hold an office of trust or profit in the United States or in THIS STATE. For purposes of this article any federal, state, county, or municipal agency represented by less than 25% of the constituency of the electoral district of the Elector is exempt from this requirement.