Faithless Electors is the term which is used to refer to U.S. Electoral College members who for different unknown reasons do not vote for the candidates initially supported by them.
In the history of American Presidential elections, there have 156 instances in which the Electoral College members have voted against their nominated President or Vice-President. In 71 of the cases the votes were changed because the originally elected candidates died even before the Electoral College members could cast their votes. In three cases, the vote was not cast since the Electoral members were absent on the election date and hence did not cast their votes. In the rest 82 cases, the votes underwent change of sides on request by the candidate himself.
Some of the names and cases of these 156 faithless electors are as follows:
- Margaret Leach in 1988
- Four democratic electors in 1896
- Seven democratic leaders in 1828
- Henry D. Irwin in 1960
- Barbara Lett-Simmons in 2000
- Samuel Miles in 1796
- Preston Parks in 1948
- Dr. Lloyd W. Bailey in 1968
- Roger L. Macbirdie in 1972
- Three federalist electors in 1812
- 63 democratic electors in 1872
Apart from these, there are other cases in American history as well.
There are 24 U.S. states which have various categories of punishments for
Faithless Electors likes fines and these people also face social hatred for cheating their nominated candidates.
