Electoral College elects Donald Trump; local voters share opinions

JACKSON, Tenn. — There was no dissent Monday from Tennessee’s electors as they cast their official votes.

All 11 electoral votes cast in Tennessee were in favor of Donald Trump.

Shannon Haynes is the elector for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District and says she fully believes in the system.

“I think it was brilliant foresight by our forefathers who set it up in such a way that doesn’t allow the big states to overthrow the small states,” Haynes said. “So I think it’s set up to give us a President Trump instead of a Hillary Clinton.”

We spoke with voters Monday here in Jackson about their thoughts on the vote, and many supported the Electoral College.

“There’s parts of the country that wouldn’t be represented,” Perry Ridenhour said. “I think it’s needed, and our founding fathers realized that.”

“The majority voted for it in your state, and I don’t really know what to tell you. I mean, it just is what it is,” Jackson resident Paige Giaimo said. “You can’t be mad because your neighbor doesn’t feel the way that you do, and not everybody is going to get their way. Somebody had to lose.”

However, many think the Electoral College isn’t really an accurate representation of the people.

“I think we should go off the popular vote, because if it’s going be up to the Electoral College anyway, then why are we even voting?” Chrystal Tims said.

Dozens of protests broke out across the country Monday in an attempt to sway the electors, but it appears they had no impact on the vote.

A joint session of Congress will officially certify Mr. Trump on Jan. 6 as the 45th president of the United States.