Group of 40 in Carson City protest against President Trump; Republican surpasses 270 electoral votes

A group of about 40 protesters gathered outside the Capitol Monday morning just hours ahead of the electoral college vote in Nevada chanting “Vote your conscience, not for Trump.”

Organizer Ashley Marshall said even though Hillary Clinton won Nevada and all its six state electors are statutorily required to vote for her, the protest was “a gesture of solidarity with electors nationwide.”

In most states, electors have the option of voting for the candidate they believe is best and Marshall said that’s what the founding fathers intended. The Nevada protest is one of 50 protests in the nation’s state capitals called for those electors to reject Trump, pointing out that Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2.5 million votes.

“It’s not only their right; it’s their duty,” Marshall said. “I say a vote for Trump is a dereliction of duty because what (Alexander) Hamilton said is there electors are there to make sure that no one who is not eminently qualified for the position be elected. I don’t see how there’s any doubt in this case.”

Marshall said the electoral college was created to select the president: “This is not meant to be a rubber stamp. To treat it that way is un-American.”

She also said she believes the founders intended the electoral vote in each state to be proportional, not winner take all. She said that would certainly be fairer.

With several states still voting, Trump had 304 votes and Clinton had 169. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.