MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s nine electors cast their ballots Tuesday for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance in the historic Old House Chamber at the State Capitol, with Gov. Kay Ivey sharing a few remarks at the ceremony in support of the United States’ Electoral College system.
“We join similar ceremonies today in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to fulfill our role in the election of the next president of the United States,” Ivey said. “Alabamians cast over 2.2 million votes in the 2024 general election; their decision will be officially recorded through the ballots of these nine electors.”
More than 1.4 million of Alabama’s 2.2 million were for Donald Trump, with the Alabama Republican Party making significant gains with minority voters this election cycle. In total, Trump received 312 Electoral College votes to Democrat Kamala Haris’ 226, and received 77 million votes to Harris’ nearly 75 million.
The Electoral College system was established in 1787, and allocated each state with a number of electors equal to their congressional representation, including two senators and at least one House representative. Based on their respective state’s election results, these electors then go on to vote for president and vice president.
Critics of the Electoral College system have argued that it grants disproportionate congressional representation to smaller states.
For instance, one electoral vote accounts for 195,000 people in Wyoming with its population of under 600,000, but accounts for more than 700,000 people in Texas with its population of more than 30 million. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for an end to the Electoral College on Tuesday, and three Senate Democrats have recently filed a bill to abolish the system.
Conversely, the Electoral College system’s supporters, Ivey among them, argue it requires candidates to seek support outside of just the country’s most populated areas.
“Now, there are some in our country who seek to abolish the Electoral College to undermine the votes of folks in states like ours, but I say the Electoral College is vital to maintain the character of our nation,” Ivey said.
“I know each of you and Secretary (Wes) Allen as well agree with me that our founders got it right. I would certainly like to personally thank each of our electors for your service to our state and our country.”
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who manages state elections, asked the more than a hundred in attendance to stand for the pledge of allegiance, this year led by Roy Drinker of Cullman, the state’s oldest Marine at 104.
“Today is a great day, because we are officially casting Alabama’s electoral votes for president and vice president in accordance with the Electoral College process that was established at the Constitutional Convention of 1787,” Allen said. “Our elections are sacred and honor the foundation of the strength and success of our constitutional republic.”
Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, one of the nine electors, told Alabama Daily News that the ceremony to him was “pretty special.”
Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, who considers Trump to be among his top-three favorite presidents, told ADN it was “exciting” to witness what he considered a “historical event.”
“Not all Alabamians support Donald Trump, but for the historic record and being here today means a great deal to me,” Allen said. “For generations that are going to follow us, I think it’s going to be important for us to refocus on what the founding fathers did for all of us, and Donald Trump (reminded) us of those values and principles of which made this country great.”