The Massachusetts Democratic State Committee last week elected 12 Democratic presidential electors who have pledged to cast their Electoral College ballots in support of Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry.

Depending upon the outcome of the presidential election on November 2, 2004, the Democratic electors will have the opportunity to cast 12 individual ballots in support of Kerry and John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

At a meeting of the Democratic State Committee on August 12 th in Plymouth, the following 12 people were elected Democratic presidential electors: Cathaleen Ashton of Wayland, Helen Corrigan of Somerville, Candice Lopes of Springfield, Elizabeth Moroney of Somerville, Sharon Pollard of Methuen and Susan Thomson of Malden. Also, Tom Barbera of Waltham, Calvin Brown of Chelsea, Robert Cassidy of Hopkinton, William Dooling of East Holliston, William Eddy of Worcester and Mushtaque Mirza of Cambridge.

In addition, four alternate electors were selected: Allyne Pecevich of Brockton, Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown, Ed Collins of Springfield and Philip Mackey of Famouth.

Depending on which presidential candidate wins the plurality of votes cast in the November election in Massachusetts, 12 electors representing either the Democratic or Republican Party will meet at the Massachusetts State House on December 13, 2004. At that time, they will be sworn in by the governor and will cast individual ballots in support of their party’s presidential and vice presidential nominee. The electors from every state will meet on the same date and all results will be transmitted to Congress in January. Whichever candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes will officially be declared President of the United States.