OPINION:
Before he can pick his vice presidential running mate, Donald Trump has to win the Republican nomination — which right now it appears he will do (“Trump supporters weigh running mate prospects before primary voting begins,” web, Jan. 6). Then he will have about six months to make a decision. Many people could be compatible with him and conceivably help the ticket win.
However, a clause in the Electoral College holds that an elector must vote for at least one of the candidates who is not from their own state. In practice, this has meant that vice presidential candidates can’t have their official residence in the same state as the presidential candidate — or else the elector would have to vote for someone other than the party’s nominee for vice president.
That would complicate the chances of getting a majority, which is why, in 2000, Dick Cheney changed his official residence from Texas back to Wyoming, in an election that ended up being won by only five electoral votes (and 537 votes in Florida). If he had not done so, Texas electors could not have voted for him.
The last I checked, Mr. Trump’s official residence is at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. That would seem to preclude having either Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or Rep. Byron Donalds on the ticket. The other names suggested (as well as many other people) are compatible with the “different state” provision.
JAMES SCARBOROUGH
Arlington, Virginia
Please read our comment policy before commenting.