UpdatedTue, Dec 15, 2020 at 2:40 pm PT
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Democrat Jack Arends, a member of Washington s Electoral College, waits to cast his vote Monday at the state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Ted S. Warren/Associated Press)
OLYMPIA, WA A terminally ill Washington elector s passionate plea in Olympia is being heard across the country.
On Monday, Washington s 12 electors gathered in Olympia and performed their duty, casting 12 votes for President-elect Joe Biden. The vote in Washington and across the country affirmed Biden s win over President Donald Trump, as the Democratic challenger won 306 Electoral College votes and Trump secured 232 votes.
While there was none of the confusion of 2016 s faithless elector debacle, one moment has captured attention across America: terminally ill elector Jack Arends plea to begin to continue rebuilding this country when he is gone.
Image zoom Credit: Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock
Jack Arends was on a 90-minute car ride to the Washington state capitol in Olympia on Monday, where he planned to cast his Electoral College vote for Joe Biden, when he decided to draft a statement to deliver to those in attendance.
For Arends, it was about more than who would be president he felt the vote was symbolic of a move toward normalcy and compassion. Get push notifications with news, features and more. + Follow
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It would also likely be one of his final opportunities to speak up.
Later that day, as he choked back tears, Arends told those in the capitol chambers that he was terminally ill.