bind electors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bind electors" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the context of legal or political discussions, particularly regarding the obligations or commitments of electors in an electoral process. Example: "The new legislation aims to bind electors to their pledged votes, ensuring they represent the will of the people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Many states have laws that attempt to bind electors and impose criminal penalties if they vote for the candidate who did not win the popular vote in that state.

The Guardian

The best response is that, as the National Conference of State Legislatures reports, 29 states and the District of Columbia have statutes that try to bind electors to their voters' preference.

The Washington Post

Twenty-four states do not legally bind electors to the popular vote in their states.

HuffPost

Some states bind electors to vote for the candidate their state chose, but others only require a pledge.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The swing state with the most electoral votes that doesn't bind its electors by law is Pennsylvania, with 20 electoral votes.

HuffPost

(About half the states, and the District of Columbia, nominally bind their electors to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged. But election experts say such laws have never been enforced and in fact are probably unenforceable).

The New York Times

Ohio and Florida, the two biggest swing states, do bind the electors by law.

HuffPost

And there are plans to mount a constitutional challenge against the 26 states that legally bind the electors' to their state's popular vote.

HuffPost

Five are procedural dimensions, since they prevalently concern the rules and only indirectly the contents: rule of law, participation, competition, vertical accountability (which binds the electors to the elected) and horizontal accountability (which links, in a game of reciprocal checks and balances, the constitutional organs).

City, Territory and Architecture

As it turned out, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana each sent two slates of electors, bound to different candidates, to Washington.

The New York Times

In 25 states, those electors were bound by law to honour their mandate yesterday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the Electoral College, use "bind electors" to accurately describe the legal or traditional constraints on their voting decisions. Be mindful of the specific laws in each state regarding electors.

Common error

Don't assume that electors are legally bound simply because of a moral obligation or party pledge. Always verify the specific state laws to confirm whether electors are legally compelled to vote a certain way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bind electors" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the act of legally or morally obligating members of the Electoral College to vote in a particular way. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bind electors" is a phrase used to describe the act of legally or morally obligating members of the Electoral College to vote according to the popular vote or a pre-arranged agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase, although relatively rare, is mainly found in news and media discussions about the Electoral College, state laws, and the potential for "faithless electors". Alternatives include "oblige electors" and "legally compel electors". It's important to be aware of the specific legal context when discussing the obligations of electors, as laws vary by state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legally bind electors

Adds "legally" to highlight the legal enforceability of the obligation.

oblige electors

Replaces "bind" with "oblige", emphasizing a sense of duty or legal requirement.

compel electors

Uses "compel" to suggest a stronger force or legal pressure on electors.

require electors to vote

Expresses the concept as a formal requirement for how electors should cast their vote.

mandate electors' votes

Uses "mandate" to indicate an official order or command.

restrict electors' freedom to vote

Focuses on the limitation of choice imposed on electors.

force electors to vote

Similar to coerce but slightly less negative, emphasizing lack of choice.

influence electors' votes

Shifts from obligation to the broader concept of influencing their decision.

direct electors

Suggests giving explicit instructions to electors on how to vote.

coerce electors

Implies forcing electors against their will, carries a negative connotation.

FAQs

What does it mean to "bind electors"?

To "bind electors" means to legally or constitutionally require them to vote in accordance with the popular vote of their state or a prior pledge. This limits their discretion and ensures they represent the will of the voters.

Are electors always legally bound?

No, not all states have laws that legally "bind electors". In some states, electors can technically vote against the popular vote, though this is rare.

What happens if an elector violates a pledge to vote a certain way?

The consequences vary by state. Some states impose fines, while others may have provisions to disqualify or replace the elector. The enforceability of these penalties has sometimes been debated in courts.

What are some alternatives to "bind electors"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "oblige electors", "require electors to vote according to the popular vote", or "legally compel electors" to convey a similar meaning.