7.18.2008

National Popular Vote Campaign

I hadn't heard of this. The NPV is a movement to get states to allocate their delegates proportional to the (national?) popular vote winner - IFF (that's philosophy lingo for "if and only if") a majority of other states do it too. Therefore, nothing happens at first, but when other states adopt the law then we have a de facto popular vote system. Interesting idea. Under the Constitution states can allocate delegates as they wish, so it doesn't require and amendment, and it modernizes the antiquated (in many people's view) rationale for the Electoral College.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

To make every vote in every state politically relevant and equal in presidential elections, support the National Popular Vote bill.

As described, the National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The National Popular Vote bill has been approved by 20 legislative chambers (one house in Colorado, Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington, and two houses in Maryland, Illinois, Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont). It has been enacted into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These states have 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.

To be involved in the National Popular Vote bill effort . . .

You can check the status of the bill in your state at http://www.NationalPopularVote.com/pages/statesactivity.php

If it's still in play in your state, let your legislator(s) know what you think. If you need help to identify and/or contact your state representatives, senators, and/or governor about National Popular Vote, you can search by your zip code using online sites such as http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home .

Sign up to get email updates - http://www.NationalPopularVote.com/pages/getemailupdates.php

Help get the word out and show your support.

Tell a friend- http://www.NationalPopularVote.com/pages/tellafriend.php

Distribute literature at political, civic, or other meeting, convention, or conference.
Post on discussion groups.
Write letters to editors, OpEds, and/or blog.

Responses to many common misinformed critiques are at http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/faq.php

Up-to-date information and materials are at http://www.NationalPopularVote.com/pages/explanation.php

susan