MPR: Gore Wins... Minnesota

Gore Wins... Minnesota
By Laura McCallum
December 18, 2000

Minnesota's 10 electors met Monday to cast ballots for Democratic Vice President Al Gore, who won the state's popular vote. Usually, nobody pays much attention to the electoral college, but in this unusual election year, the details of electing a new president have captured public interest.

Elector Janis Ray of West Concord signs a ceremonial program before casting an official ballot for Al Gore. See larger image.
(MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

MOTHER NATURE threw a wrinkle into the carefully-planned schedule of Electoral College events. Heavy snow delayed three metro-area electors, and by the time two of them arrived at the Governor's reception room, they had been replaced by the spouses of two other electors.

One of the tardy electors - Elizabeth Kalisch of White Bear Lake - seemed on the verge of tears after spending more than an hour on clogged freeways. It was Kalisch's third attempt to become a presidential elector - the first two times she was rejected by DFL delegates because of her opposition to legalized abortion; she figured this was her last chance.

"It's about the end of my time in the party. I've worked really hard through the years, and I felt this would be one of my last things in the party," she said.

After huddling with staff and legal counsel, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer announced a way to let Kalisch cast her vote. The two replacements could resign and allow the original slate of electors to serve.

"This is very appropriate considering this election year, that we would be having this kind of circumstance," said Kiffmeyer.

After some lobbying, the replacements agreed to step aside and allow the original 10 electors to vote. The seven women and three men cast their votes in a pine ballot box from Pine County - the county with the highest voter turnout this year, 93-percent of eligible voters. A packed room of reporters, Capitol staffers, party activists and schoolchildren awaited the results.

In the end, there was little suspense. All 10 electors voted for the Gore-Lieberman ticket. It was the second time Matt Little of Maplewood served as an elector; the first was in 1992, when Bill Clinton first won the White House.

Electors stuffed their ballots in a pine box from Pine County. The honor is extended to the county with the highest voter turnout. See larger image.
(MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Little says he's glad the close election has brought attention to the election process. Although he and the other electors wish their candidate would have emerged the victor, they don't want to scrap the Electoral College.

Janis Ray of West Concord says without the Electoral College, presidential candidates would ignore states with smaller populations, like Minnesota.

"It's sad when the popular vote and the electoral vote do not agree," she admits. "It doesn't happen very often, it can only happen on a very, very close election, like we've had this year. But in all fairness, if it went to the popular vote,the candidates would campaign in those states where the big population numbers are, the Californias, the Pennsylvanias, the Michigans, the New Yorks," said Ray.

One Republican state representative plans to push legislation to allocate electoral votes by election results. But as one DFLer put it: what Democrat would want to change the system that has given the state's 10 electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidates for nearly three decades?

Laura McCallum covers politics for Minnesota Public Radio. Contact her via e-mail at lmccallum@mpr.org.

	Sign up to receive e-mail newsletters

	Audio help

	Text: Sm : Md : Lg