CBS
MN Elector Votes For Edwards

Dec 13, 2004 12:51 pm US/Central
St. Paul (AP) An unknown Minnesota Democrat earned a footnote in history

by casting one of the state's 10 Electoral College votes for John

Democratic vice presidential running mate for John Kerry.

The Edwards vote apparently gives Minnesota its first ever "faithless

the dubious name for Electoral College members who snub the candidate

the state's popular vote in the general election. Kerry, who beat

Bush in Minnesota but lost overall, wound up with nine of the state's

votes.

No one claimed credit for the Edwards vote. Several electors said they
suspected that someone unconsciously mixed up the two Johns on the

rather than purposefully made a political statement.

"If it was meant to be a protest-type vote I would be upfront and say

how I voted,' said elector Frank Simon of Chaska. "It doesn't seem like

is coming forth to say that."

Added elector Michael Meuers of Bemidji: "I'm certainly glad that the

College is not separated by one vote."

Bush is due to receive 286 electoral votes; Kerry was slated to get 252,

the Minnesota vote will reduce that total. It takes 270 votes to win the
presidency.

Electors around the country meet in state capitols on the same day to

Democrats made up the Minnesota slate because Kerry received 1,445,014

Bush's 1,346,695 in November.

Minnesota's voting began shortly after noon. Electors wrote their

name on an 81/2-inch-by-11-inch sheet of paper and put the ballots in a

box. Once all votes were in, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and an

pulled them out, counted them and announced the total. A tally sheet was

to Congress, which announces nationwide totals in January.

It may never be known who cast the Edwards ballot. The ballots aren't

In response to public information requests, Kiffmeyer's office released

of the ballots along with other documents bearing signatures of the

Some electors had distinguishable handwriting, but comparisons involving

Edwards ballot were inconclusive.

Kiffmeyer, a Republican, said she was shocked to see the Edwards vote

counting the ballots. She also thought that it was in error.

"It just shows the humanness of the process," she said. Even if an

forward to admit a mistake, it is too late to change the ballot, she

Edwards received all 10 Minnesota votes for vice president in a separate

of balloting.

In October, The Associated Press contacted electors and was able to

10 Republicans and eight of 10 on the Democratic roster. All said they

unequivocally support their party's candidate if called on to vote.

Minnesota is not among the states where political parties require their
electors to take formal pledges that they'll back the ticket. In some

electors can be hit with fines and misdemeanor charges for bucking the

vote.

Faithless electors are rare. The last case resembling the Minnesota

was in 1988, when West Virginia elector voted for Democratic vice

candidate Lloyd Bentsen over presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. She

backed Dukakis for vice president.

The Web site of the nonprofit Center for Voting and Democracy, which

faithless electors in history, doesn't show any previous incidents

Minnesota electors. Neither did several other Web sites on the topic.

No one claimed credit for the Edwards vote. Several electors said they
suspected that someone unconsciously mixed up the two Johns on the ticket
rather than purposefully made a political statement.