LANSING — On a frigid afternoon less than a week before Christmas, 16 Michigan Republicans held the power of the voters in their hands and gave their votes to Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.

The 16 members of Michigan's Electoral College, cast their 16 votes to Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence shortly after 2 p.m today, officially making Donald Trump the winner of the Nov. 8, presidential election.

It was a day that was filled with the tradition set in the U.S. Constitution, as well as protests from several hundred people who braved frigid temperatures to protest the election of the controversial Republican.

“Our founding fathers created a system of checks and balances, where as no president has ever been elected by direct popular vote but by a system described in the Constitution,” said Ken Crider an elector from Livonia, in reading a resolution before the vote took place. “Donald J Trump won Michigan’s popular vote by the narrowest margin in Michigan’s history, winning 306 of 270 electors needed to secure his place in history as our 45th President of the United States of America.”

But the protesters had a different take on the day. On the steps of the Capitol, they asked electors to cast their vote for anyone other than Trump. But they also talked about impeachment after Trump makes it to the White House.

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"We are here at the Michigan state Capitol to call on the electoral college to reject Donald Trump. Electors, you must put the welfare of your country, the welfare of the human race above party," said Jessica Prozinski, of the group Stop Trump Ann Arbor. "I’m sure the last few weeks have been hell for you, as they’ve been hell for many of us gathered here today ... You have the power today as you’ll never have again in your life to do something heroic. You have to ask yourself what is the right thing to do and then you have to have the courage to do it"

The numbers have already been counted and the election results certified by state election's officials, showing Trump won Michigan with a 10,704 lead over Democrat Hillary Clinton, along with the state's 16 Electoral College votes. But it's up to the Electoral College in all 50 states and Washington D.C. to gather on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December in every presidential election cycle to put the official rubber stamp to the voters' intentions.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State, "The Electoral College was written into the U.S. Constitution in 1787, a time when our nation was new and still struggling in many ways, including politically. Of primary concern was the possibility of a nationwide election breaking down into chaos and confusion. To counter the politically volatile environment of the late 18th Century, the Electoral College was established to balance the state's and people's interests."

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In Michigan, the 16 electors were selected at the state's Republican Party convention in August. They represent each of Michigan's 14 congressional districts and two Senate seats.

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The electors have been bombarded with letters, phone calls, social media pleadings and e-mail from people who hope they will vote for either Clinton or any Republican other than Trump, who won 306 electoral votes nationally. But Michigan state law prohibits the electors from voting for someone other than the winner of Michigan's vote. If they do, their position as an elector will be vacated and the other 15 members will approve of a replacement for the "faithless" elector.

In the hour before the actual vote started, the protesters moved inside, chanting "No way ,Donald Trump go away," and "Electors, reject the President-elect." The protesters were relegated to the halls of the Capitol and its Rotunda. The actual electoral vote is open to ticketed guests only and the Michigan Republican Party handled the guest list.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal