The Founding Fathers’ primary purpose in creating the Electoral College was to ensure that informed judgement in the best interests of the country prevailed over public sentiment in the election of the President. As James Madison reflected after the fact:

"A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations. It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder … the precautions which have been so happily concerted in the [Electoral College], promise an effectual security against this mischief."

In plain, modern language, Madison says the Electoral College was created so that if a person won the popular vote due to the frustrations, animosities, and ignorance of the general population, informed, discerning, disciplined people wanting the best for our country would prevail, and protect the nation from a President who would likely do great harm to the nation.

As such, 2016 is the first time in our history that the mission of the Electoral College begs to be fulfilled. This is not a matter of politics as usual, or symbolic protests. In some States, Electors are free to vote their conscience. In some, they may be (modestly) punished for voting against the State’s own popular vote. In either case, the very reason Electors exist is so that they may countermand presidential election results at a time such as the present. This is why you are an Elector. When you are convened, we pray you will have the courage and the integrity to take the important historic action with which you are charged.

For your convenience, a list of only some of Donald J. Trumps documented disqualifications to hold this most special office is provided below. We the undersigned beg all Electors who care for and love this country to vote for Hillary Clinton, or to at least not vote for Donald Trump, whatever the cost.

·      Donald Trump casually encouraged the assassination of his political opponent and her judicial appointees.

·      Donald Trump threatened to imprison his political opponent.

·      Donald Trump threatened to deport his political opponent.

·      Donald Trump has sometimes been silent when people in his presence have called for violent action against political opponents or minorities or named individuals, and sometimes explicitly encouraged such violence.

·      Donald Trump said he would force the US military to commit war crimes, including torture, targeting family members of combatants as combatants, and plundering oil-rich countries in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

·      Donald Trump has demonstrated a clear lack of familiarity with the US Constitution, and the duties of the President and the Vice President.

·      Donald Trump proposed that China should assassinate Kim-Jong Un.

·      Donald Trump has praised the actions taken by China in Tiananmen Square, by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, and by dictators Kim Jong-Un, and Saddam Hussein.

·      Donald Trump has done business with and taken as advisors a number of persons recognized for their relationship to organized crime or to Vladimir Putin. He also tried to do business with Muammar Qaddafi.

·      Donald Trump has said the United States should not honor treaties on which it is a signatory, which would entirely undermine our international credibility.

·      Donald Trump advocates blocking entry by, deporting, or tracking persons presumed to be enemies of the United States only because of their religious identity, and has spoken approvingly of anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish offenses.

·      Donald Trump has promised to violate the 14th Amendment by deporting children of illegal immigrants.

·      Donald Trump said that a US Federal Judge could not be impartial because his parents are Mexican.

·      Donald Trump has, paradoxically, employed and exploited illegal immigrants.

·      Donald Trump has insulted veterans and their families in the face of POW status and death in the line of duty.

·      Donald Trump has mocked the disabled, disparaged women in the most degrading terms more times than can be counted, characterized Mexican immigrants as primarily being rapists and criminals, Africans as being inherently lazy, and been friendly with recognized hate groups.

·      Donald Trump has been a plaintiff in over 1900 law suits, a defendant in more than 1400, has established a track record of not paying people and companies that have done work for him and his companies, shifted costs of failed business ventures to investors, gone bankrupt four times, run at least ten other failed businesses, and is proud of his many years of not paying any portion of his massive wealth into the support of this country through income taxes.

·      Donald Trump has used charitable funds to pay personal expenses, and has claimed as his own charitable donations money that actually came from other people.

·      Donald Trump has 75 currently pending law suits in which he is defending against such allegations as fraud, defamation, sexual harassment, and rape of a minor child.

·      Donald Trump has refused to release his tax returns, which either show he is not the billionaire he claims to be, or other embarrassing facts. He has blamed this on being in audit. He has not even produced a letter to prove that he is in audit, and moreover, the IRS has stated that being in audit does not prevent release of his returns.

·      Donald Trump’s honesty rating by independent sources indicates that he has made truthful statements during his campaign only about 15% of the time.

If any single one of the above facts pertained to any other candidate at any time in our history, they would be considered manifestly unqualified. Do your job, Electors. This is the very reason your role exists.