ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---The electoral college is a part of the presidential election process. It took place at the New York State Capitol on Tuesday.
New York’s electors are made up of state leaders including Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, among others, who cast ballots for President and Vice president of the United States.
Even though Donald Trump won the Presidential election, all of New York’s 28 electoral votes went to Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz because they won the state on election day.
"To be able to cast that ballot for the first Black woman, the first Asian woman as President of the United States, even though I know she won’t be being sworn in come January— New Yorkers came out, they voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz," said Kathy Sheehan, Albany's Mayor who was also an elector. "We are here exercising our responsibility as electors to cast those ballots."
While Governor Kathy Hochul noted the historical significance of the electoral college dating back to the country’s founding, she also shared her desire for it to be changed.
"I strongly believe that the people of New York State and the United States of America should and must have their votes count equally, and that the popular vote should prevail. It’s time to amend the constitution and relegate the institution to the history books," said Hochul.
For a constitutional amendment to happen, Jeffrey Wice a professor at New York Law School said two-thirds of the states would have to agree on it. He also explained another way the process could be changed.
"There are different proposals being sought across the county that states can group together and award their votes based on the proportion of the vote that goes to the presidential candidates--- so that let’s say, all of New York’s 28 votes don’t have to go to one candidate or another," explained Wice.
The next step is for Congress to certify the final vote on January 6th.
