Is there any consitutional ground to prevent the states from...

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Is there any consitutional ground to prevent the states from scrapping choosing electors by popular vote altogehter and returning to having them selected by the legistlatures, like it had been done initially (and, in South Carolina, up until 1860, I believe)?

I don't think the Constitution specifies the manner of selecting the electors at all.

[MarkD]

It is completely constitutional to do so, but it would not be very popular with state legislators who want to get re-elected, because their own constituents would not want to lose the power to vote for President. Therefore, I can't imagine why any state legislature would change it back to the old way. Most of the voters would have to decide that they don't want to vote for President any more.

[Hu Flung Pu]

I mean it's possible, but also a death sentence to political careers at the state level.  People should have the right to decide who the president is.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I don't think the Constitution specifies the manner of selecting the electors at all.

Yep. This is one of the decisions the Constitution punts to the states, so there's nothing to stop, say, Wyoming from choosing her electors by a vote of the legislature - or by a coin toss, pie-eating contest, or any other absurdly undemocratic system they should concoct. But that's okay, because AMERICA IS A REPUBLIC NOT A DEMOCRACY!!!1!!11!

[jimrtex]

Under federal statute, a state's ascertainment of the appointment of its electors is considered to be legally definitive if made by six days before the meeting date of the electors. Following the 2000 election in Florida, the Texas legislature changed the statute, so that if the winner of the election in Texas had not been determined approaching that date, the legislature will meet and choose the electors.

Missouri does (or maybe did) provides for the legislature to break ties in the popular vote.

In 1845, when Congress set the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in November as the timefor appointing electors, they provided that if appointment was not made on first trial (i.e. the first attempt via election), the State could make an appointment on a later date. This was used in Massachusetts in 1848, and Georgia in 1860, when no electors received a majority of the vote, and electors were appointed by the legislature of the two states.

Electors were also appointed by the legislature of Colorado in 1876, and even though they were decisive in the election of President Hayes, were not considered controversial.

[GoTfan]

Possible. But these days, you wouldn't win any favours.

[PMHub]

Could it happen? Yes.

Would it happen? No.

[zorkpolitics]

States by legislation, can allocate electors anyway they want, regardless of the popular vote in that state.  I would like to see a state have the College of Cardinals to take responsibility for allocating electors.