One of 12 Democratic electors in Washington uses a feather pen to fill out the paperwork to cast their Electoral College votes for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Harris lost to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, but won a majority of votes in Washington in the November election. (Courtesy of Washington State Archives)
Washington’s 12 electors gathered in Olympia on Tuesday and, using white feather pens to make their selections and sign their names, silently cast their votes for the Democratic presidential ticket, despite Kamala Harris and Tim Walz losing the election .
They were among 538 Electoral College voters across the country who cast their ballots for the next president and vice president of the United States. These votes will be sent to the president of the US Senate – a position Harris now holds as vice president – and the National Archives, and will be counted by Congress on January 6.
“I am honored to be part of this peaceful transition of power,” said Elector Sharon Mast. “This is the expected outcome of an election and is fundamental to our democracy. The peaceful transfer of power as a solemn moment, even though I would have preferred that power be transferred somewhere else.”
The electoral college is one process where political parties select a group of people to vote for the president based on state election results. Because voters in Washington supported Harris, it was Democratic voters who participated on Tuesday.
Washington’s twelve electoral votes reflect the number of lawmakers who represent the state in Congress. To become president, a candidate must win 270 of the 538 electoral votes.
Tuesday’s ceremony is an important step in the transfer of presidential power.
This process was sullied in 2021 when on January 6 of that year, former president and now President-elect Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers were counting electoral votes to confirm President Joe Biden’s victory.
“That January 6 stain reminds us how fragile democracy is,” Gov. Jay Inslee said during Tuesday’s hearing, which took place in the Senate chambers. The outgoing governor added that democracy is only as good as the people who defend it.
Lona Wilbur, one of three Native American voters in Washington, reflected on the struggles Native Americans have historically faced in securing and exercising voting rights.
Growing up, she said, her grandparents taught her the importance of voting and electing someone who represents tribal communities, protects treaty rights and provides services to people.
Other voters, such as Tara Gallagher and Justin Camarata, criticized the Electoral College itself, calling it a flawed system.
“I wish we weren’t all there,” said Gallagher, “I think we should get rid of the Electoral College.”
“It’s time to allow one person and one vote to extend to the presidential election,” she added.
Gallagher criticized the fact that the winner of the popular vote has not always won the presidential election because of the Electoral College and how the system often leads candidates to focus on just a handful of swing states.
“I think it’s very important to note that the Electoral College was created as a tool for disenfranchisement,” Camarata said. “It was formed as a way to respond to the emancipation of people who were in slavery and as we think about the future and the future of democracy, it is very important that we recognize that even as we participate in it.”
