Anti-Trump protesters gather as Electoral College votes
Electoral College members will meet Monday around the country to place their votes for president of the United States.
It is a constitutionally mandated ritual every four years that this year Americans will watch with interest.
The Electoral College’s usually ceremonial role has come under focus in the aftermath of the 2016 election due to a number of factors — including that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by a significant margin, and the finding by the CIA and FBI that Russia used hacking to try to influence the election.
In light of these circumstances, pundits and members of the public are considering what role the 538 electors can and should play in deciding the final outcome of the election.
Public demonstrations opposed to Trump are expected in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on Monday to encourage electors to vote in line with the national popular vote, protest organizers said. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is spearheading several of the events, said its goal is to talk to electors as they enter the meetings in their respective states to help them feel supported should they decide to vote according to the popular vote.
While it is possible that a few electors who are pledged to Trump could go “faithless” and vote for Clinton or another candidate, most experts expect that Trump will get the 270 electoral votes he needs to win. (GMA)
See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
