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NY Electoral College to vote Monday in Albany

Dec 14, 2020 5:25 am
Edward McKinley is reporting for the Times Union a much-anticipated meeting of the Electoral College will occur, as planned, Mon., Dec. 14. The members will vote according to how the populations within their respective states cast ballots last month. And despite being in the midst of a global pandemic New York's Electoral College members will meet in person on Monday at the state Capitol building in Albany to conduct their business. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said that although it "would be common sense" to hold the Electoral College meeting virtually due to COVID-19, the state will proceed with an in-person meeting. “Now, the conundrum was this: apparently the law specifically says meet in person at the state Capitol," Cuomo said last week. "I don’t want to create any issue for litigation where somebody tries to invalidate the New York election because of this specificity about in-person in the state Capitol." The process of electing a U.S. president is guided by specific federal laws. The general election is held on the first Tuesday in November, and for most states, including New York, Electoral College delegates are bound by law to vote according to the winner of their state's popular vote. The Electoral College is required to meet on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December to vote. Congress then counts the votes for the final step in the process early next year. New York has 29 Electoral College votes, all of which will go to Joe Biden. State delegates include: former President Bill Clinton, former Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton, state Attorney General Letitia James, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Cuomo and others. Read the full story in the Times Union.