The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has gained more momentum after Colorado Governor, Jared Polis (D), announced his plans to sign into legislation a bill that would see Colorado becoming the 12th state along with the District of Columbia to be a part of the NPVIC. The Constitution provides that states can decide how they award their electoral votes in national elections.
Under the NPVIC, the 12 states which include New York and Illinois, the winner of the presidential popular vote would receive each states electoral votes. This would be true even if the winner of the electoral vote loses the popular vote in such states.
270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidential election, and the members of the NPVIC currently have a total of 180 electoral votes. Advocates of the Compact are bypassing hopes of having enough members to be effective in the 2020 election, but are targeting the 2024 election to have enough member states to surpass the needed 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. New Mexico legislators are said to be considering joining the Compact.
One of the sponsors, Colorado State Rep., Democrat Emily Sirota says the Compact is “a way to ensure that every vote is counted equally”. The Compact also seeks to force candidates to campaign nationwide instead of targeting swing states.
Talks of changing how electoral college votes are awarded became louder after Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election. An election in which early data showed Clinton winning the popular vote, but supporters of President Trump say that is only if you consider the voter fraud that took place during the election.
Advocates also see the NPVIC as a way to ensure a sitting president doesn’t cater to swing states, but instead governs with all states in mind. According to the National Popular Vote, 16 states have introduced bills to join the Compact, with New Mexico showing the most promise bringing to the table 5 electoral votes. Other Democrat controlled states showing promise include Delaware, Maine, Nevada and Oregon which would add in total 20 more electoral votes.
Opponents of awarding electoral college votes to the winner of the popular vote say candidates would target large Democrat heavy states such as New York and California, as well as heavily Democrat controlled cities like Chicago in order to rack up votes. Ultimately leading to large Democrat areas deciding who wins the presidency. A concern that Republicans across the nation share.
James Cheef