--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no reason for the electors to…" description: "\"There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.\" — Lawrence Lessig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png" --- # There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular… ![“There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.” quote by Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png) > “There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.” [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democratic legitimacy is compromised when elected officials ignore the majority's will. **In simple terms:** Ignoring voters undermines democracy. Key Takeaway Respect popular will in decision making. Themes politics democracy representation Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - legislative voting - public referenda Key Concepts electoral theory legitimacy citizen empowerment Questions to Reflect On - Should elected officials ever override popular choice? - What safeguards protect against tyranny of the majority? A Different Perspective Balancing expertise and popular opinion is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Electors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electors-1106486/) [Electors Overrule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electors-overrule-1190466/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Overrule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrule-340279/) [Overrule Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrule-popular-1190468/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Electors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-electors-1190467/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Winner take all does not exist in the Constitution. It's a restriction imposed on the electors by the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/winner-take-all-does-not-exist-in-the-constitution-it-s-a-restriction/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Being in charge sometimes means making people mad. Some days you have to overrule even the best advice, because you think it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/being-in-charge-sometimes-means-making-people-mad-some-days-you-have/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We must never allow the majority to overrule the clear teaching of the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-must-never-allow-the-majority-to-overrule-the-clear-teaching-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Custom does often reason overrule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/custom-does-often-reason-overrule/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [The great thing about fact-based decisions is that they overrule the hierarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/the-great-thing-about-fact-based-decisions-is-that-they-overrule-the/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Never let your emotions overrule your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/never-let-your-emotions-overrule-your-head/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The real powerful person never rule on others, he is powerful enough to overrule himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/the-real-powerful-person-never-rule-on-others-he-is-powerful-enough/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [ \[Donald\] Trump lost two electors, Hillary \[Clinton\] lost five. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-lost-two-electors-hillary-clinton-lost-five/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Who are to be the electors of the Federal Representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/who-are-to-be-the-electors-of-the-federal-representatives-not-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I trust my electors. I see them in weekly meetings. I'm their advocate, I'm there to take up their case. I'm not there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-trust-my-electors-i-see-them-in-weekly-meetings-i-m-their-advocate/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Presidents cannot always kick evil-minded persons out of the front door. Such persons are often selected by the electors to represent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/presidents-cannot-always-kick-evil-minded-persons-out-of-the-front/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The British electors will not vote for a man who does not wear a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-british-electors-will-not-vote-for-a-man-who-does-not-wear-a-hat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people participate in votes in their states to choose electors to elect the president, but the people don't elect the president. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/the-people-participate-in-votes-in-their-states-to-choose-electors-to/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [“It is not enough to be electors only. It is necessary to be law-makers; otherwise those who can be law-makers will be the masters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar/it-is-not-enough-to-be-electors-only-it-is-necessary-to-be-law-makers/) [Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) ## More by Lawrence Lessig > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [As I've indicated, most books go out of print within one year. The same is true of music and film. Commercial culture is sharklike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-i-ve-indicated-most-books-go-out-of-print-within-one-year-the-same/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Code plus law is combining to reduce rights consumers used to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/code-plus-law-is-combining-to-reduce-rights-consumers-used-to-have/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Overregulation corrupts citizens and weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/overregulation-corrupts-citizens-and-weakens-the-rule-of-law/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Power runs with ideas that only the crazy would draw into doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/power-runs-with-ideas-that-only-the-crazy-would-draw-into-doubt/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Remember the refrain: We always build on the past; the past always tries to stop us. 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Or at least, they are not conflicts for survival of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/but-like-all-metaphoric-wars-the-copyright-wars-are-not-actual/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [If the only way a library can offer an Internet exhibit about the New Deal is to hire a lawyer to clear the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/if-the-only-way-a-library-can-offer-an-internet-exhibit-about-the-new/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Some blame the drug companies. I don't. They are corporations. Their managers are ordered by law to make money for the corporation. They push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/some-blame-the-drug-companies-i-don-t-they-are-corporations-their/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [By the time Apple's Macintosh operating system finally falls into the public domain, there will be no machine that could possibly run it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/by-the-time-apple-s-macintosh-operating-system-finally-falls-into-the/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [As more and more citizens express what they think, and defend it in writing, that will change the way people understand public issues. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-more-and-more-citizens-express-what-they-think-and-defend-it-in/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I think if the copyright regime focuses on the people we are supposed to be helping, the artists and creators, and builds a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-if-the-copyright-regime-focuses-on-the-people-we-are-supposed/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [There is still the illusion that if we could declare corporations are not people or that money is not speech, all would be solved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-is-still-the-illusion-that-if-we-could-declare-corporations-are/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) [Explore all 137 Lawrence Lessig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lawrence Lessig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-overrule-the-popular-choice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-overrule-the-popular-choice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e9/lawrence-lessig-3201_choices_there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-ov_2514645.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's no reason for the electors to overrule the popular choice.” — Lawrence Lessig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lawrence Lessig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's no reason for the electors...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-overrule-the-popular-choice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-s-no-reason-for-the-electors-to-overrule-the-popular-choice/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```