A faithless elector is a member of the United States electoral college who does not cast his/her electoral vote for the person whom they have pledged to elect. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States.

On 158 occasions, electors have cast their votes for President or Vice President in a manner different from that prescribed by the legislature of the state they represented. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death Of those, 71 votes were changed because the original candidate died before the elector was able to cast a vote. Two votes were not cast at all when electors chose to abstain from casting their electoral vote for any candidate. The remaining 85 were changed by the elector's personal interest, or perhaps by accident. Usually, the faithless electors act alone. An exception was in 1836 when 23 Virginia electors changed their vote together. The United States presidential election of 1836 is predominantly remembered for three reasons It was the last election until 1988 to result in the elevation The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state

Political parties choose their slate of electors in each state, and they generally select party members with a reputation for high loyalty to the party and its candidate. Moreover, a faithless elector runs a risk of censure and other political retaliation from his party. Thus, the parties have generally been successful in keeping their electors faithful, leaving out the cases in which a candidate died before the elector was able to cast a vote.

Twenty-four states have laws to punish faithless electors. While no faithless elector has ever been punished, the constitutionality of state pledge laws was brought before the Supreme Court in 1952 (Ray v. Blair, 343 U. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ray v Blair, 343 US 214 ( 1952) is a major decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. S. 214). The court ruled in favor of the state's right to require electors to pledge to vote for their party's nominee, as well as to remove electors who refuse to pledge. Once the elector has voted, their vote can only be changed in states such as Michigan and Minnesota, where votes other than those pledged are rendered invalid. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers However, in all twenty-four states, a faithless elector may only be punished after he or she votes. As stated in the ruling, electors are acting as a function of the state, not the federal government. Therefore, states have the right to govern electors. The constitutionality of state laws punishing electors for actually casting a faithless vote, rather than refusing to pledge, has never been decided by the Supreme Court.

To date, faithless electors have never changed the otherwise expected outcome of the election.

List of faithless electors

The following is a list of all faithless electors (most recent first). The number preceding each entry is the number of faithless electors for the given year.

(1) 2004 election: A Minnesota elector, pledged for Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards, cast his or her presidential vote for John Ewards [sic], apparently accidentally. The United States presidential election of 2004 was held on Tuesday November 2, 2004, to elect the President of the United States. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator Johnny Reid "John" Edwards (born June 10 1953 Sic is a Latin word meaning "thus" "so" "as such" or "just as that" (All of Minnesota's electors cast their vice presidential ballots for John Edwards. Johnny Reid "John" Edwards (born June 10 1953 ) Minnesota's electors cast secret ballots, so unless one of the electors claims responsibility, it is unlikely that the identity of the faithless elector will ever be known. As a result of this incident, Minnesota Statutes were amended to provide for public balloting of the electors' votes and invalidation of a vote cast for someone other than the candidate the elector is pledged to.

(1) 2000 election: D.C. Elector Barbara Lett-Simmons, pledged for Democrats Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, cast no electoral votes as a protest of Washington D.C.'s lack of statehood, which she described as the federal district's "colonial status". The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Democratic candidate Al Gore, then Vice President, and Republican Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Barbara Lett-Simmons (born 1927 is an American politician A Democratic elector from the District of Columbia in the 2000 U Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24 1942 is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D

(1) 1988 election: West Virginia Elector Margaret Leach, pledged for Democrats Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen, instead of casting her votes for the candidates in their positions on the national ticket, cast her presidential vote for Bentsen and her vice presidential vote for Dukakis. -->The United States presidential election of 1988 featured an open primary for both major parties West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Margaret R Leach was a United States Democratic Politician from West Virginia, best known for being a so-called Faithless elector Michael Stanley Dukakis (born November 3, 1933) is an American Democratic politician former Governor of Massachusetts, and was the Democratic Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr ( February 11 1921 – May 23 2006) was a four-term United States senator (1971 until 1993 from Texas

(-) 1984 election: In Illinois, the electors, pledged to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, conducted their vote in a secret ballot. The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate and former Vice President The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 When the electors voted for Vice President, one of the votes was for Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic nominee. Geraldine Anne Ferraro (born August 26 1935) is an attorney and a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives After several minutes of confusion, a second ballot was taken. Bush won unanimously in this ballot, and it was this ballot that was reported to Congress.

(1) 1976 election: Washington Elector Mike Padden, pledged for Republican Gerald Ford and Bob Dole, cast his presidential electoral vote for Ronald Reagan, who had challenged Ford for the Republican nomination. The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard M Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Mike Padden is a Lawyer, former member of the Washington State Legislature, and a current District court judge residing in Spokane Washington Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole (born July 22 1923 is an attorney and retired United States Senator from Kansas from 1969–1996 serving part of that time He cast his vice presidential vote, as pledged, for Dole.

(1) 1972 election: Virginia Elector Roger MacBride, pledged for Republicans Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, cast his electoral votes for Libertarian candidates John Hospers and Theodora Nathan. The United States presidential election of 1972 was waged on the issues of radicalism and the Vietnam War. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Roger Lea MacBride ( 6 August 1929 - 5 March 1995) was a US lawyer Political figure, and Television producer Spiro Theodore Agnew ( November 9, 1918 September 17, 1996) was the thirty-ninth Vice President of the United States (and the first The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 John Hospers (born 9 June 1918) is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California. Theodora Nathalia "Tonie" Nathan (born 9 February 1923) is the first woman to have received an electoral vote in a United States presidential MacBride's vote for Nathan was the first electoral vote cast for a woman in U. S. history. MacBride became the Libertarian candidate for President in the 1976 election. The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard M

(1) 1968 election: North Carolina Elector Lloyd W. Bailey, pledged for Republicans Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, cast his votes for American Independent Party candidates George Wallace and Curtis LeMay. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1968 was a wrenching national experience and included the assassination of Democratic candidate North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Dr Lloyd W Bailey is a Physician and Ophthalmologist, now retired from Rocky Mount North Carolina, who achieved notoriety during the Spiro Theodore Agnew ( November 9, 1918 September 17, 1996) was the thirty-ninth Vice President of the United States (and the first The American Independent Party is a California Political party. George Corley Wallace Jr (August 25 1919 September 13 1998 was a Democratic Governor of Alabama for four terms (1963-1967 1971-1979 and 1983-1987 and ran for Curtis Emerson LeMay (15 November 1906–3 October 1990 was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent

(1) 1960 election: Oklahoma Elector Henry D. Irwin, pledged for Republicans Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., cast his presidential electoral vote for non-candidate Harry Flood Byrd along with 14 others. The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Henry D Irwin was a Republican Presidential Elector (from Oklahoma) for the 1960 U Henry Cabot Lodge Jr ( July 5, 1902 &ndash February 27, 1985) was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts Harry Flood Byrd Sr ( June 10, 1887 – October 20, 1966) of Berryville in Clarke County Virginia was an American Unlike other electors who voted for Byrd for president, Irwin cast his vice presidential electoral vote for Barry Goldwater.

(1) 1956 election: Alabama Elector W. F. Turner, pledged for Democrats Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver, cast his votes for Walter Burgwyn Jones and Herman Talmadge. Please DO NOT flip the colors --> The United States presidential election of 1956 saw a popular Dwight D Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. W F Turner was a United States Democratic elector from Alabama during United States presidential election 1956. This is about the mid-20th-century politician and diplomat for other American politicians so named see Adlai Stevenson (disambiguation. Carey Estes Kefauver ( July 26, 1903 – August 10, 1963) was an American Politician from Tennessee who Walter Burgwyn Jones ( October 16, 1888 &ndash August 1, 1963) was a judge from Alabama. Herman Eugene Talmadge ( August 9, 1913 – March 21, 2002) was an American politician who served as Governor of the

(1) 1948 election: Two Tennessee electors were on both the Democratic Party and the States' Rights Democratic Party slates. The United States presidential election of 1948 is considered by most Historians as the greatest election Upset in American history. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. The States' Rights Democratic Party (commonly known as the Dixiecrats) was a segregationist, socially conservative Political party When the Democratic Party slate won, one of these electors voted for the Democratic nominees Harry Truman and Alben Barkley. Alben William Barkley (November 24 1877 &ndash April 30 1956 was a Democratic member of the U The other, Preston Parks, cast his votes for States' Rights Democratic Party candidates Strom Thurmond and Fielding Wright, making him a faithless elector. Preston Parks was a so-called Faithless elector during United States presidential election 1948. The States' Rights Democratic Party (commonly known as the Dixiecrats) was a segregationist, socially conservative Political party James Strom Thurmond ( December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician who served as governor of South Carolina and Fielding Lewis Wright ( May 16, 1895 – May 4, 1956) was a Democratic politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi

(8) 1912 election: Republican vice presidential candidate James S. Sherman died before the election. The United States presidential election of 1912 was fought among three major candidates two of whom had previously won election to the office James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24 1855 &ndash October 30 1912 was a United States Representative from New York and the twenty-seventh Vice President Eight Republican electors had pledged their votes to him but voted for Nicholas Murray Butler instead. Nicholas Murray Butler ( April 2, 1862 &ndash December 7, 1947) was an American philosopher diplomat and educator

(4) 1896 election: The Democratic Party and the People’s Party both ran William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate, but ran different candidates for Vice President. The United States presidential election of November 3 1896 saw Republican William McKinley defeat Democrat William Jennings Bryan in a campaign considered by For other persons of the same name see William Bryan and William Jennings. The Democratic Party nominated Arthur Sewall and the People’s Party nominated Thomas Watson. Arthur Sewall ( November 25, 1835 &ndash September 5, 1900) was a U Thomas Watson or Tom Watson may refer to Bishops Thomas Watson (bishop (1515–1584 Bishop of Lincoln from 1557-1560 The People’s Party won 31 electoral votes but four of those electors voted with the Democratic ticket, supporting Bryan as President and Sewall as Vice President.

(63) 1872 election: 63 electors for Horace Greeley changed their votes after Greeley's death, which occurred before the electoral vote could be cast. Please DO NOT flip the colors --> In the United States presidential election of 1872, incumbent President Ulysses S Horace Greeley ( February 3, 1811 &ndash November 29, 1872) was an American editor of a leading newspaper, a founder Greeley's remaining three electors cast their presidential votes for Greeley and had their votes discounted by Congress.

(23) 1836 election: The Democratic Party nominated Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky as their vice presidential candidate. The United States presidential election of 1836 is predominantly remembered for three reasons It was the last election until 1988 to result in the elevation Richard Mentor Johnson (October 17 1780 or 1781 &ndash November 19 1850 was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. The 23 electors from Virginia refused to support Johnson with their votes upon learning of the allegation that he had lived with an African-American woman. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state There was no majority in the Electoral College and the decision was deferred to the Senate, which supported Johnson as the Vice President.

(32) 1832 election: Two National Republican Party electors from the state of Maryland refused to vote for presidential candidate Henry Clay and did not cast a vote for him or for his running mate. The United States presidential election of 1832 saw incumbent President Andrew Jackson, candidate of the Democratic Party, easily win reelection against Henry Clay Sr ( April 12, 1777 &ndash June 29, 1852) was a nineteenth-century American statesman and Orator who All 30 electors from Pennsylvania refused to support the Democratic vice presidential candidate Martin Van Buren, voting instead for William Wilkins. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Martin Van Buren (December 5 1782 July 24 1862 was the eighth President of the United States from 1837 to 1841 William Wilkins ( December 20, 1779 &ndash June 23, 1865) was an American lawyer jurist and politician from Pittsburgh

(7) 1828 election: Seven (of nine) electors from Georgia refused to vote for vice presidential candidate John Calhoun. The United States presidential election of 1828 featured a rematch between incumbent President John Quincy Adams and chief rival Andrew Jackson. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule John Calhoun may refer to John C Calhoun, 7th Vice President U All seven cast their vice presidential votes for William Smith instead. William Smith ( September 6, 1762 &ndash June 26, 1840) was chosen as a Democratic-Republican to the U

(1) 1820 election: William Plumer pledged to vote for Democratic Republican candidate James Monroe, but he cast his vote for John Quincy Adams who was also a Democratic Republican, but was not a candidate in the 1820 election. The United States presidential election of 1820 was the third and last presidential election in United States history in which a candidate ran effectively unopposed William Plumer ( June 25, 1759 December 22, 1850) was an American lawyer and lay preacher from Epping New Hampshire James Monroe (April 28 1758 – July 4 1831 was the fifth President of the United States (1817–1825 John Quincy Adams (July 11 1767 &ndash February 23 1848 was an American diplomat and politician who served as the sixth President of the United States Some historians contend that Plumer did not feel that the Electoral College should unanimously elect any President other than George Washington, but this claim is disputed. (Monroe lost another three votes because three electors died before casting ballots and were not replaced. )

(4) 1812 election: Three electors pledged to vote for Federalist vice presidential candidate Jared Ingersoll voted for Democratic Republican Elbridge Gerry. The United States presidential election of 1812 took place in the shadow of the War of 1812. The Federalist Party (or Federal Party) was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816 with remnants lasting into the 1820s Jared Ingersoll ( October 24 1749 October 31 1822) was an early American lawyer and statesman from Philadelphia. Elbridge Thomas Gerry (ˈgɛri (July 17 1744 November 23 1814 was an American statesman and diplomat One Ohio elector did not vote. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads

(6) 1808 election: Six electors from New York were pledged to vote for Democratic Republican James Madison as President and George Clinton as Vice President. In the United States presidential election of 1808, the Democratic-Republican candidate James Madison defeated Federalist candidate Charles Cotesworth New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous James Madison Jr (March 16 1751 – June 28 1836 was an American Politician, the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817 and one of the Founding This page is for the US Vice President For others of that name see George Clinton. Instead, they voted for Clinton to be President, with three voting for Madison as Vice President and the other three voting for James Monroe to be Vice President. James Monroe (April 28 1758 – July 4 1831 was the fifth President of the United States (1817–1825

(1) 1796 election: Samuel Miles, an elector from Pennsylvania, was pledged to vote for Federalist presidential candidate John Adams, but voted for Democratic Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson. The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the first one to elect a President and Vice-President from opposing tickets Samuel Miles ( March 11 1740 &ndash December 29, 1805) was an American military officer and Politician, active The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Federalist Party (or Federal Party) was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816 with remnants lasting into the 1820s John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence He cast his other presidential vote as pledged for Thomas Pinckney. Thomas Pinckney ( October 23, 1750 November 2, 1828) was an early American statesman diplomat and veteran of both the American Revolutionary (This election took place prior to the passage of the 12th Amendment, so there were not separate ballots for president and vice president. The Twelfth Amendment ( Amendment XII) to the United States Constitution provides the procedure by which the President and Vice President are )

References

List of Electors Bound by State Law and Pledges, as of November 2000

• The Electoral College - "Faithless Electors". Official website of the Center for Voting and Democracy (2002). FairVote is a Non-profit organization based in Takoma Park Maryland, whose mission is to achieve universal access to participation a full spectrum of meaningful Retrieved on December 5, 2006. (source for definition of faithless elector and list of faithless electors)

• "Faithless Electors". Website of FairVote, formerly the Center for Voting and Democracy. FairVote is a Non-profit organization based in Takoma Park Maryland, whose mission is to achieve universal access to participation a full spectrum of meaningful Retrieved on June 11, 2008. (source for definition of faithless elector and list of faithless electors, updated to include 2004 presidential election)

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