What if there was an electoral disaster?

[zachman]

What if the a group of 50 electors for the winning candidate were murdered by terrorists a week before they cast their ballots. The result would be no electoral majority. Would the Supreme Court intervene, or would the election be sent to Congress?

[Vasall des Midas]

What if the a group of 50 electors for the winning candidate were murdered by terrorists a week before they cast their ballots. The result would be no electoral majority. Would the Supreme Court intervene, or would the election be sent to Congress?

The state would select new electors. It is that simple.

Only if it has a method and enough time for that...However, I can't see Congress going against the will of the people in such a case.

[jimrtex]

What if the a group of 50 electors for the winning candidate were murdered by terrorists a week before they cast their ballots. The result would be no electoral majority. Would the Supreme Court intervene, or would the election be sent to Congress?

Under the Constitution, the states define their method of appointing electors.   Most (all?) states have a method for filling vacancies, including electors not being able to get to the meeting location in their state.  Generally, the other electors choose replacements.  I think there were some electors in Minnesota that were not able to get to St Paul to cast their electoral vote in 2000, and they were replaced.

[Nym90]

The states would pick new electors. If all else failed, surely the Supreme Court would intervene and make sure that common sense prevailed here, and that the candidate would get all of his/her electoral votes that they were entitled to.

[TexasGurl]

The states would pick new electors. If all else failed, surely the Supreme Court would intervene and make sure that common sense prevailed here, and that the candidate would get all of his/her electoral votes that they were entitled to.

ummm ya sure they would........

[Nym90]

Hehe, I understand the cynicism, but I can't honestly see the Supreme Court allowing the candidate who lost the Electoral Vote to win on a technicality because some of the Electors died.

[??????????]

The states would pick new electors. If all else failed, surely the Supreme Court would intervene and make sure that common sense prevailed here, and that the candidate would get all of his/her electoral votes that they were entitled to.

ummm ya sure they would........

Are you the President of this new morons club?

Things that make you go hmm.

[Jim Valvano]

President Nym90, Senator texasgurl24 is correct with having cynicism. I don't trust the Supreme Court anymore (not since they ruled McCain-Feingold legal). Somehow Don't believe those 9 robed justices have enough honor to let political preference be sacrificed for justice. Whichever party has a Supreme Court majority would win the election in such an electoral disaster in my opinion.

[Mr. Fresh]

President Nym90, Senator texasgurl24 is correct with having cynicism. I don't trust the Supreme Court anymore (not since they ruled McCain-Feingold legal). Somehow Don't believe those 9 robed justices have enough honor to let political preference be sacrificed for justice. Whichever party has a Supreme Court majority would win the election in such an electoral disaster in my opinion.

Well I agree, i'm actually not sure what ruling you're talking about, but I don't trust the Supreme Court that much either...their justice is a bit slanted imho.

[Akno21]

The court is currently 7-2 in the Republicans favor, although Bush v. Gore was 5-4.

[cwelsch]

In the event that a group of electors was murdered, the state or states that appointed them could come in for an emergency session and declare that their electoral votes go to the winning candidate.

The only state with 50 electors is California (well, 55, but maybe 5 survived) so it'd have to be a collection of several different states' electors or a coordinated effort in different locations.  Regardless, the state could just send the electoral votes to the right candidate if it didn't have any electors.

[Niles Caulder]

The states would pick new electors. If all else failed, surely the Supreme Court would intervene and make sure that common sense prevailed here, and that the candidate would get all of his/her electoral votes that they were entitled to.

I disagree the Supreme Court would step in if a sufficient number of states simply lacked contigency plans to replace electors.  It's supposed to go to the House, and that's where it would go.  And if they valued their lives, much less their jobs, they'd be sure to overwhelmingly elect the victor decided on election night, regardless of party disparity.
Even if they didn't, someone would have to blow up the House of Representatives too before the Court would step in.

[Platypus]

I would think that some of the electors from the losing candidate would cross over to give the winner 270. It would just be the right thing to do, I suppose.