The Electoral College revolt will fail. But the rebellion is still worth it.

The risks of staging an Electoral College coup are big. But the payoffs could be much bigger.

Making this statement could still make a difference.
(Image credit: Photo Illustration | Images courtesy iStock, Ikon Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

On Monday, the 538 members of the Electoral College will gather in each of their respective states to formally pick the next president of the United States. Donald Trump, who won states with 306 electoral votes, will almost certainly get more than the 270 required to be president, and then Congress will ratify his final electoral tally on Jan. 6, 2017.

He is going to be America's 45th president. Anyone who hopes otherwise is deluding themselves. Because even if the electoral coup succeeded (it won't), and electors denied Trump the 270 votes he needs (they're not going to get close), the decision on America's next president would get thrown to Congress. That's right, the Republican-controlled Congress. They would pick Trump, obviously.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.