On Monday, Alabama’s nine presidential electors held firm to their commitment to vote for Donald Trump.
The electors cast their vote during a ceremony in the Old House Chamber at the state capitol building. The event was presided over by Secretary of State John Merrill, while Governor Robert Bentley and Congressman Robert Aderholt were on hand to make remarks.
The results were not unexpected. Officials close to the electors, including Secretary of State Merrill and Alabama Republican Party Chair Terry Lathan, both assured voters that electors were solid in their support for Trump.
“I know each and every one of those electors and I know each and every one of them will remain faithful to their pledge to vote for President Trump,” Merrill told WBRC, adding that electors are required by law to uphold their pledge.
In November, Donald Trump won the Yellowhammer State handily with more than 62 percent of the vote.
In Alabama and across the nation, electors were bombarded with thousands of emails, letters, and phone calls from activists urging that Trump’s victory be overturned.
Last week, AL.com reported that Montgomery attorney Will Sellers, one of the state’s electors, reportedly received more than 2,200 emails urging him to switch his vote. Also an elector during the 2004, 2008, and 2012 elections, he told the news source that “it’s never been like this.”
“I’ve never seen this kind of wholesale, direct communications with electors,” Sellers said.
He went on to add that many of the calls, letters, and emails appeared to come from an organized call center or pre-written form.
In other states, John Kasich was able to secure one vote, as did Ron Paul. Others who received votes from electors included former Secretary of State Colin Powell and liberal Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
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