Why do people express discontent with "faithless" electors?

The discontent regarding "faithless" electors primarily stems from the violation of party loyalty. In the context of the Electoral College system, electors are typically pledged to vote for the candidate who wins the majority in their respective states. When an elector chooses not to follow this commitment, it represents a break from the collective decision made by the voters in their state, undermining the principle of elected representation.

This feeling of frustration is rooted in the expectation that electors will honor the democratic choice of the electorate. Such actions can lead to perceptions of betrayal among party members and constituents, as they go against the agreed-upon rule that electors will support their party’s candidate. This emphasis on loyalty contributes to broader concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the respect for the choices made by voters.

Other aspects, such as changing the outcome of elections, might seem significant, but the core issue of loyalty is what drives public sentiment regarding faithless electors. The infrequency of faithlessness and its supposed impact on voter turnout do not connect as strongly to the underlying issue of party fidelity that generally fuels discontent.