I've read this three times:

...the fact that a legislature could, before the election itself, simply allocate electors to the candidate of its choice without any input from the public is an ongoing and ever-present threat to electoral democracy.

I have never heard of such a thing. In the context of Jamelle Bouie's entire column, which lauds the bill present before the Senate now, I am mystified.

...

 The bill would address each part of the scheme. It would require states to choose electors according to the laws that existed before Election Day and prevent state legislatures from overriding the popular vote by declaring a “failed election.”

...

I don’t know whether the bill can actually pass the Senate, but it is a good bill.