Donald J. Trump has officially surpassed the 270 electoral college vote requirement to become the next President of the United States.
The electoral college process, used since 1789, consists of the selection of state electors, followed by an official meeting of electors to cast their votes as required by their respective state rules. These elector votes are then counted and certified by Congress. The electoral college consists of 538 electors and a majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President.
Little disruptions reported
Despite riots in several cities, frequent protests, legal challenges, recount efforts, and even death threats against state electors, there was very little disruption to today’s electoral process.
In Maine, one “faithless” elector cast his vote for Bernie Sanders, instead of Hillary Clinton, in a purported act of “protest”. A Minnesota elector who also tried to cast his vote for Bernie Sanders had his ballot invalidated per that state’s rules.
Colorado electors stated they were casting their votes for Clinton “under duress”, protesting new elector oath requirements imposed by that state.
Protestors in Wisconsin had to be forcibly removed from the hearing room after they attempted to disrupt the proceedings, shouting “shame” at electors as they were distributing the Trump ballots. One particularly disturbed protestor was escorted out while shouting a warning that Trump would “destroy the world”.
Michigan cast its 16 elector votes for Trump, despite a handful of protesters huddled outside of the state Senate office calling on electors to “vote [their] conscience.”
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant dismissed protests in his state as “misguided”, schooling the protestors on both the history and purpose of the electoral college.
In Washington state, Clinton received only 8 of the 12 designated electoral votes, as “unfaithful” electors in that state cast the remaining 4 votes for former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell and Faith Spotted Eagle (a native American activist).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
