One of the Republicans nominated to be a voting member of the Electoral College has resigned after revealing she won’t vote for Mitt Romney.
In 2000, George W. Bush won the Electoral College by just two votes and University of Northern Iowa political science professor Donna Hoffman says this rogue elector could have been a significant problem if 2012 is equally close.
“If Iowa voted for Romney and then one of the six electors decided to cast their ballot for Ron Paul and then, depending on how the Electoral College flushed out in the other states, you know, it could be something that would be critical,” Hoffman says.
Melinda Wadsley of Ames was one of six electors selected this past spring at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention. She objects to the way Ron Paul supporters were treated at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
“I’m disappointed with the Republican Party for those events,” Wadsley said.
Wadsley, a Ron Paul backer, revealed her reluctance to support Romney in various media interviews.
“I’m kind of on the fence as to what I’ll do in December,” Wadsley said during an interview with Iowa Public Radio.
Now, Wadsley has no role in December’s Electoral College vote, as she resigned after speaking with the chairman of the Iowa GOP. The Republican Party’s state central committee will choose a replacement.
In every presidential election year a slate of Republican electors and a slate of Democratic electors are nominated at each party’s state convention. If Iowa votes for the Republican presidential nominee, the slate of Republicans gets to vote. If Iowa votes for the Democrat, the slate of Democrats gets to cast their Electoral College votes.