Article 2, Section 1, Paragraph 3
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.*
Certified List to President of Senate
And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate.
Once the votes are tabulated, the State’s electors list all the names that received votes and the tally of votes. This was to be signed and certified and sent to the Federal Senate with the official seal.
This system provided the planned balance of Federal power. The State Legislatures were to choose non-politicians to decide which presidential nominees were the best choices. Thus, State interests would be protected, while at the same time, keeping citizens involved in the process and enabling a select representation to make the actual vote. These votes were then sent to the Senate, where verification could be made of the accuracy and Constitutionality of the vote.
Signing and certifying makes the paperwork official. There are a couple examples in Scripture of this being done. It is used when there is turmoil and the information needs the weight of careful consideration and honesty.
When David was ousted from his throne because of Absalom, he told the priests to return with the Ark and when things were safe, they were to certify it and send for his return.
2 Samuel 15:28, "See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me."
In the legal statements that were sent to the Emperor in the account given in the book of Ezra, the statements from the Jewish people were certified.
Ezra 4:14, "Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;",
Ezra 4:16, "We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river."
Ezra 5:10, "We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them."
Ezra 7:24, "Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them."
Paul certified that the gospel he preached was of God and not some human philosophy.
Galatians 1:11, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man."
The Lord Jesus even signed the message of John by His messenger. The book is extremely important to the Saints of God. It could not risk being discarded.
Revelation 1:1-2, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."
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