No. 19-465October Term 2019Decided Jul 6, 2020
Chiafalo v. Washington
This case asked whether Washington could fine presidential electors who broke their pledge and voted for someone other than the candidate who won the State’s popular vote in the 2016 election.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 6, 2020
- What it's about
This case asked whether Washington could fine presidential electors who broke their pledge and voted for someone other than the candidate who won the State’s popular vote in the 2016 election. The Supreme Court held that states may enforce those pledges and punish so-called faithless electors.
Question presented
Whether enforcement of this law is unconstitutional because: (1) a State has no power to legally enforce how a presidential elector casts his or her ballot; and (2) a State penalizing an elector for exercising his or her constitutional discretion to vote violates the First Amendment.
- Case path
Supreme Court of Washington / Decision released Jul 6, 2020
- Area
First Amendment, Elections
Timing
Decided July 6, 2020
The Court released its decision on July 6, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology