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WASHINGTON's STATE LAWS REGARDING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS

  • Electoral College Votes Count: 12
  • Alocation Type: winner-takes-all
  • Electors Must Pledge: yes

Elector Pledge and Electoral College Votes Allocation​

Washington is one of the 48 states that have a winner-takes-all rule for the Electoral College. In these States, whichever candidate receives a majority of the popular vote, or a plurality of the popular vote (less than 50 percent but more than any other candidate), takes all of the state’s Electoral votes.Washington is one of the states have passed laws that require their electors to vote as pledged. These laws may either impose a fine on an elector who fails to vote according to the statewide or district popular vote, or may disqualify an elector who violates his or her pledge and provide a replacement elector.

Election Code: W.A.

How Does Washington Select Its Electors?​

  • The political parties generally select the electors through their caucus and convention system, which usually occur in the spring of the presidential year. The U.S. Constitution states, “no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.”

When Do The Electors Vote?​

  • The 12 presidential electors shall meet in Olympia on the day now appointed, or which shall hereafter be appointed, by the Congress of the United States and vote for the president and for the vice president of the United States in the manner prescribed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. If an elector votes for a person not nominated by the party for which they are an elector, they are subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00

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