HELENA — The three Montana members of the Electoral College cast their votes Monday for Republican Donald Trump, paying no mind to the small group of protesters outside the state Capitol who urged them to back someone else.
Five-time elector Thelma Baker of Missoula was joined by Vodene Kopetski and Becky Stockton in the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the Montana Capitol. Kopetsky and Stockton were alternates who were sworn in after elector Dennis Scranton did not appear and state Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, withdrew shorty before the vote.
Earlier this month, Baker, Ballance and Scranton told The Associated Press that they received a flood of calls and emails from people urging them to back another candidate, or anybody but Trump.
A state law requires electors to take a pledge that they will vote for their party’s nominee for president. The three electors said they felt bound to vote for Trump not only because of that law, but because of the way the Republican won the state on Election Day.
Trump received 56 percent of the vote in Montana, compared with Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 36 percent.
Baker said she personally supports Trump, but she believes it is up to each elector to decide whether to break ranks and vote his or her conscience.
“Five times now, I haven’t found that necessary,” Baker said. “I don’t always agree with them 100 percent, but I don’t know that anybody agrees with anybody 100 percent.”
Ballance bowed out after her 8-year-old grandson, Jack, urged the electors to support Trump. She cited legal challenges in other states over electors who are also state lawmakers.
“I vacate my position as elector so the votes of Montana may not be challenged or subject to litigation,” she said.
In Ohio, state Rep. Christina Hagan resigned as an elector after a Democrat sued over her dual roles as lawmaker and elector.
It is not clear why Scranton, who lives in Miles City, did not attend.
Before the vote, about 20 demonstrators gathered outside the Montana Capitol to protest Trump. They came from Ovando, Butte, Bozeman and Great Falls to gather in the 20-degree weather.
One of them, Dan Avery of Butte, said he didn’t believe the demonstration would change any of the Montana elector’s minds, but he felt compelled to come.
“I’ve been so frustrated with this whole process, I felt that even if it doesn’t do any good, I want to be there to express my feelings,” Avery said. “I’m afraid for the country and afraid for the world with that guy.”
A joint session of Congress will certify the results of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, followed by the winner being sworn in on Jan. 20.