NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee’s 11 presidential electors on Monday cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump amid protesters demanding they stray from their legal obligation to support the candidate who carried the state.
None of the electors had given any indication they would budge from their support for Trump, but that didn’t stop electors from receiving thousands of letters, emails and phone calls urging them vote for someone else.
The vote came with little fanfare, other than a few outbursts from the gallery. One audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast, but was told he could not speak.
“We certainly appreciate the Scripture, but this is a procedure the Electoral College can only proceed in,” State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said from the podium. “The answer is no.”
One protester shouted profanity at electors, and held up a sign in the gallery reading: “In your gut you know he’s nuts.” She was ultimately escorted from the chamber.