YES, BUT THEY WON’T: Could the Electoral College elect Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump?

A Change.org petition, now signed by more than 4.3 million people, encourages members of the Electoral College to cast their votes for Hillary Clinton when the college meets on Dec. 19. The petition argues that Donald Trump is “unfit to serve” and that “Secretary Clinton WON THE POPULAR VOTE and should be President.”

“If they all vote the way their states voted, Donald Trump will win,” the petition states. “However, they can vote for Hillary Clinton if they choose. Even in states where that is not allowed, their vote would still be counted, they would simply pay a small fine – which we can be sure Clinton supporters will be glad to pay! We are calling on the Electors to ignore their states’ votes and cast their ballots for Secretary Clinton.”

Wishful thinking about the Electoral College has been de rigueur on the losing side of every election since at least 2000. The Electoral College could act as a failsafe against a crazy electorate, but electors are unlikely in the extreme to undermine the College’s own existence just to please a few internet cranks.