— The next step in the 2016 presidential election isn’t happening without controversy, as North Carolina’s presidential electors are gearing up to cast their votes in the Electoral College.

Several groups, including Unite America, are calling on electors to vote their conscience after President-elect Donald Trump won North Carolina.

A spokesman for the state Republican Party made it very clear before a Sunday afternoon press conference began that there would be no mystery in the outcome Monday. There will be 15 votes for Trump, but that didn't stop protesters from gathering to urge electors to change their mind.

"We have decided that the Electoral College will serve as ministers of the will of the people of North Carolina," said elector Mark Delk.

For protesters outside the Capital Building Sunday night, the election of Trump is not the will of all the people. They join others across the country who, until the very last vote is cast, will continue to urge electors not to vote for Trump.

"At least they're going to know how a bunch of us feel about it as far as Trump being not the kind of representative that we want the world to look at or that I want to raise my grandchildren saying this is the kind of man that we want to lead our country," said protester Richard Klett.

The state’s presidential electors arrived at the North Carolina Museum of History on Sunday afternoon to take a group photo and answer some questions before casting their votes on Monday at noon.

North Carolina is one of more than two dozen states with laws that attempt to bind the votes of presidential electors. In the state, any elector who switches a vote is subject to a $500 fine. State law also says switching a vote constitutes a resignation, so the vote would not count and remaining electors would fill the vacancy.

North Carolina’s electors said they’ve received tubs full of mail as well as emails from people asking that they change their votes, but they said not to expect any such controversy.

“I’ve gotten registered mail, I’ve gotten mail from Canada and not to mention the iMessages and the phone calls. It’s really been disappointing because we’ve made a decision,” said elector Glenn Pinckney.

Another elector said that, while they understand the right of the people to petition the government, they feel a lot of the mail they’ve received crosses over into harassment.