New Jersey’s Electorial College delegation set to meet in Trenton

TRENTON — New Jersey's 14 electors are set to formally select Democrat Hillary Clinton for president on Monday.

The Electoral College delegation will meet in Trenton to officially allot the state's 14 electoral votes to Democrats Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine.

Clinton won the state on Election Day over Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who is preparing to take office in January to succeed President Barack Obama.

Trump won more than the necessary 270 electoral votes in November, but some groups across the country are trying to prevent him from taking office by persuading electors not to vote for him.

That hasn't been an issue in New Jersey, which is solidly Democratic and is set to vote for Clinton.

Still, a group called Progressive Change Campaign Committee is planning a "show of force" protest at the statehouse on Monday to call on electors nationwide to support Clinton since she won the popular vote.

The divided response to last month's presidential election has thrust the arcane and often ceremonial institution of the Electoral College into the forefront of rough-and-tumble United States politics.

Some of the state's electors agree it's time to "abolish" the Electoral College in favor of the popular vote.

"It's an outdated system," said Lizette Delgado-Polanco, the state Democratic Party's vice chair and a presidential elector. "The popular vote is what should count. The vote and the will of the people is what should count, not some antiquated system."

In New Jersey, the winner of the state's popular vote wins all of the state's electors, who are chosen by state party leaders.

The Democratic electors include state party officials, local office holders and the spouse of Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Marlene Prieto.

The meeting is expected to begin at 3 p.m. Monday in the statehouse annex.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.