October Term 2019 · Docket 19-465
Can states bind electors to vote for their party candidate?
the sides that brought the case seek to strike down state laws that bind electors. the opposing sides defend those binding laws.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
L. Lawrence Lessig argued states cannot control elector votes.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a pledge alone violates the Constitution.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a one-dollar fine changes the analysis.
Justice Thomas asked if the federal function argument relies on elector discretion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 42-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 42-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-34
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state power over elector voting.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 13, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-26
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down state binding laws.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold state binding laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue states lack power to control elector votes.
the opposing sides argue states may set conditions for elector appointment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a pledge without a fine violates the Constitution.
Justice Thomas asked if the federal function argument depends on elector discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 42-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 42-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-34
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of state control over presidential elections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 42-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 42-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-34
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 14-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 14-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 38-38
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.