The Arizona House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill by a bipartisan 40-16 vote on February 4, 2016. The bill now goes to the Senate, where two-thirds of Arizona Senators are sponsors.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC.
So far, the National Popular Vote bill has passed a total of 34 legislative chambers in 23 states, including recent bipartisan:
- 40-16 vote in the Republican-controlled Arizona House
- 28-18 vote in the Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate
- 57-4 vote in the Republican-controlled New York Senate
- 37-21 vote in the Democratic-controlled Oregon House
The bill has been enacted into law in 11 states possessing 165 electoral votes. It will become effective when enacted by states with 105 more electoral votes.
This video explains why 38 states are politically irrelevant in General election campaigns for President. It explains how the National Popular Vote bill will ensure that every voter, in every state, will be politically relevant in every Presidential election.
The U.S. Constitution leaves it to each state to choose its method of selecting its Presidential electors. Article II says, "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors...."
The "winner-take-all" method of awarding electoral votes is not part of the U.S. Constitution. It was never debated by the Constitutional Convention. It was never mentioned in the Federalist Papers. It was not envisioned by the Founding Fathers, much less endorsed by them. Only 3 states used winner-take-all in our nation's first Presidential election in 1789, and all of them repealed it by 1800. Current state winner-take-all laws may be repealed in the same way they were originally adopted, namely by state legislative action. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that deciding on the method of awarding electoral votes is an "exclusive" and "plenary" power of each state.
The National Popular Vote interstate compact would not take effect until enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes, that is, enough to elect a President (270 of 538). Under the compact, the winner will be the candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC) on Election Day. When the Electoral College meets in mid-December, the national popular vote winner will receive all of the electoral votes of the enacting states, and thereby become President. The Electoral College will thus represent the will of the voters in all 50 states (and DC).
The National Popular Vote bill retains the Electoral College and States control of elections.
CLICK HERE to email your legislators to support the National Popular Vote.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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