By Chris Barnett in
RIFuture.org
The state’s remarkable year in presidential politics will
come to an end this Monday at noon and you’re invited. Rhode Island’s Electoral
College will convene at the State House to cast ballots for president and vice president.
The historic ceremony will begin precisely at noon when the
Kentish Guards in colonial military garb escort the state’s four
presidential electors, the state’s Congressional delegation and other
dignitaries to the House Chamber, where the event will take place.
“This is the culmination of a year-long journey that sent Rhode
Islanders to the polls in near-record numbers. The entire state can take pride
in what they have achieved.”
The process began in 2011, when we introduced legislation
creating a regional presidential primary with Pennsylvania, New York and
Connecticut. The initiative brought Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and the Gingrich
campaign to Rhode Island in the days before voters went to the polls last
April. The end came when more than 446,000 votes were cast in last month’s
election, the second highest turnout in state history.
Title 3, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Code outlines the Electoral College
process. Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of
representatives and senators it has in Congress. The Electoral College will
meet in every state and the District of Columbia on Dec. 17 to cast ballots for
president and vice president.
By federal law, electors representing the political party of the
candidate who wins the popular vote for president in each state officially
elect the president and vice president. Rhode Island’s Electors are state
Rep.-elect Marvin L. Abney of Newport, Emily A. Maranjian of Providence, L.
Susan Weiner of East Greenwich and Mark S. Weiner of East Greenwich.
The Rev. William L. Shaw of the Union Baptist Church in
Pawtucket will provide the Invocation and the Martin Middle School choir of
East Providence will perform the national anthem to open Rhode Island’s
ceremony.
On Jan. 6, 2013, Vice President Biden will preside over a joint
session of Congress. The ballots of the electors from each state will be opened
in alphabetical order by state and read aloud to Congress.
