The Independent View: Ohio Initiative for National Popular Vote Plan

Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.

Leading Ohio Democratic Party Activists are about to Launch a Statewide Initiative to bolster the National Popular Vote Plan. It would Amend the State Constitution to Require the Legislature to Pass the Plan.

On April 1st, 2019, Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General sent an Official Letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, in regards to: Submitted Petition for Initiated Constitutional Amendment to Add Article XX, Section 1 to the Ohio Constitution- "The Presidential Election Popular Vote Amendment Petition A".

It explained, on March 21st, 2019, in accordance with Ohio Revised Code ("ORC") Section 3519.0l(A), he received a Written Petition containing:

(1) a Copy of a Proposed Constitutional Amendment to add Article XX, Section 1 to the Ohio Constitution.

(2) a Summary of the same Measure.

He writes:

It is my Statutory Duty to determine whether the submitted summary is a "fair and truthful statement of the proposed law or constitutional amendment." ORC Section 3519.0l(A). If I conclude that the summary is fair and truthful, I am to certify it as such within ten days of receipt of the petition. In this instance, the tenth day falls on Sunday, March 31, 2019. Therefore, my determination is due on Monday, April 1, 2019.

Having examined the submission, I conclude that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law. I therefore submit the following certification to you:

Without passing on the advisability of the approval or rejection of the measure to be referred, but pursuant to the duties imposed upon the Attorney General's Office under Section 3519.0l(A) of the Ohio Revised Code, I hereby certify that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law.

The National Popular Vote Bill would Guarantee the Presidency to the Candidate who Receives the Most Popular Votes in All 50 States and the District of Columbia. To do this, you need enough States with 270 Electoral Votes to Send their Electors to the Electoral College, with the Total Electoral Votes at 538.

It has been Enacted into Law in 14 States and D.C. with 189 Electoral Votes (CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, RI, VT, WA).

The National Popular Vote Bill needs 81 more Votes before it takes effect.

The National Popular Vote Bill is also making Progress in other States.

The Nevada House and Maine Senate are about to Vote on the Bill.

There is a Committee Hearing in the Oregon Senate Rules Committee.

There will be a Hearing in New Hampshire in the Fall.

The Bill has been Introduced in 21 States so far during 2019.

Here are the States that could make that happen:

- Arizona (11): Democrats must Flip the State Senate and State House in 2020 or 2022 and Flip the Governorship in 2022.

- Maine (4): Democrats Control the Governorship and the Legislature in all Three States, and Legislation to join the Compact is currently working its way through the Legislative Process.

- Michigan (16): Democrats must Flip the State House in 2020 or 2022 and Hold the Governorship and Flip the State Senate in 2022.

- Minnesota (10): Democrats Control the Governorship. They must Flip the State Senate and Hold the State House in 2020.

- Nevada (6): Democrats Control the Governorship and the Legislature in all Three States, and Legislation to join the Compact is currently working its way through the Legislative Process.

- New Hampshire (4): Democrats must Flip the Governorship and Hold the State Senate and State House in 2020 or 2022.

- North Carolina (15): Democrats must Hold the Governorship in 2020 and Flip the State Senate and State House in 2020 or 2022.

- Oregon (7): Democrats Control the Governorship and the Legislature in all Three States, and Legislation to join the Compact is currently working its way through the Legislative Process.

- Pennsylvania (20): Democrats must Flip the State Senate and State House in 2020. If they do not, they must Hold the Governorship and Flip the State Senate and State House in 2022.

- Virginia (13): Democrats Control the Governorship. They must Flip the State Senate and State House this year. If they do not, they must hold the Governorship in 2021 and Flip the State House in 2021 or 2023 and Flip the State Senate in 2023.

Collectively, these States currently have a Total of 106 Electoral Votes, that would equal 295 well over the 270 Threshold, so it won’t be necessary to Win all of these in order to bring the Compact into Force.

UPDATE

Organizers have Aborted their Attempt to Change Ohio’s Constitution to Award the State’s Presidential Electoral Votes to the Winner of the National Popular Vote, regardless of who Wins Ohio.

J. Corey Colombo, a Columbus Elections Attorney working for the Proposal, wrote a brief Letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose saying the Group is withdrawing its Petitions. Colombo’s Law Firm issued a Statement citing Time Constraints and the Large Number of Signatures required to get the Issue on the Ballot.