The Electoral College is usually a formality for loyal electors to rubber-stamp the presidential candidate chosen by their states. The margin is so small that the possibility of intrigue is great. The nation's 538 electors will gather in state capitols Dec. 18 to choose the next president. Their ballots will be sealed until Jan. 6, when they are opened in a joint session of Congress. Twenty-four states have laws that require electors to support the candidate who won the general election, but all electors are free to vote however they want.
State laws restricting the votes are probably unconstitutional, constitutional scholars say.
A switch by just two of his electors would give the presidency to Democrat Al Gore. With Oregon still being decided, Bush could have 278 electoral votes if he wins that state and Florida. But there are modern cases, too. In 1992, Harry Robinson, a Texas writer who was an elector for President Bush, threatened not to vote for him because of the military intervention in Somalia. However, Robinson changed his mind.