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Meet the Democratic, Indigenous presidential elector who could prevent a Hillary Clinton victory
Puyallup Native people's Robert Satiacum Jr pledges not to support Democratic candidate in Electoral College
Who is Robert Satiacum Jr?
Satiacum is a prominent activist and member of the Puyallup, one of Washington state's Indigenous peoples. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and supported there Clinton's main rival, Bernie Sanders. Nominated as Democratic elector candidate, Satiacum initially pledged to give his vote at the Electoral College to Clinton and to her running mate Tim Kaine.
What is the Electoral College?
The election of the US president is technically an indirect one. That is, ordinary citizens do not cast their votes for president and vice president candidates, but empower instead a limited group of voters appointed by their respective political parties —the so-called electors— to do so. Nationwide, the presidential electors are 538. It is them who make up the Electoral College, whose function is to choose the president and vice president by a majority. Therefore, any presidential candidate needs 270 electors' votes in order to be declared the winner.
How many presidential electors are there in Washington?
There are 12 of them. Like all US states —except Maine and Nebraska— the party that wins the popular vote in the state of Washington wins all 12 electors at stake. The most likely outcome there is a Democratic win, thus all 12 Washington state electors will be Democrats —among them, Satiacum.
Why does Satiacum now say he will not be voting for Clinton?
Satiacum argues Clinton is not reliable when it comes to the Indigenous and environmental dossiers. He further says he is very disappointed with Democratic President Barack Obama. This October, Satiacum has protested —along hundreds of members of Indigenous peoples— against the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, which is expected to link North Dakota oil fields to a terminal in Illinois. The pipeline will pass next to the lands of Standing Rock Reservation, which the Lakota and Dakota say will negatively affect their water sources.
Can Satiacum refuse to vote for Clinton even in the Democrats win in Washington?
Yes he can, and indeed this has already happened before. In the state of Washington in 1976, a Republican presidential elector declined to vote for then US president and Republican candidate Gerald Ford, and gave his electoral vote to Ronald Reagan instead —a faithless elector, in US election terminology. As regards Satiacum, the Democratic Party could choose to open a legal dispute to try to replace him with another presidential elector before December 13, the date on which each state must take final decisions on disputes arising with presidential electors. On December 19, all electors nationwide are required to choose the president and vice president.
What scenario could turn Satiacum's vote decisive for a Trump victory?
This would happen if Satiacum denies Clinton her 270th electoral vote, thus preventing her from winning a majority at the Electoral College. Given the fact that Satiacum is not expected to vote for Trump either, this would mean that the Republican candidate would too fail to reach the 270 votes required. In that case, the Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution should be referred to. It provides for a House of Representatives vote to choose the new president. A priori, it would be thinkable that Trump could win, as the Republicans dominate the House. But it must also be kept in mind that the tycoon is highly unpopular among Republican congressmen themselves, so it cannot be ruled out that some of them would boycott Trump and end up voting for Clinton.