The National Popular Vote Movement

AUTHOR

ACRU Staff

DATE

March 5, 2023

National Popular Vote Interstate compact would take away middle America’s voice

Imagine a country where only those in the big cities picked the president, a country where rural and middle America had virtually no voice. Sound like a nightmare? A well-funded campaign from the left, is 72% of the way to making that nightmare real.

National Popular Vote, Inc. is a lobbying organization based in San Francisco created to push states to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate compact (NPV). The compact is state legislation where states commit to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. If the compact were in effect during the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton would have been elected President of the United States. Luckily for the country, it has yet to take effect.

So far, 15 states plus DC have signed on to the compact, a total of 195 electoral votes. It takes effect once it reaches a total of 270 electoral votes. The end result would be the nullification of the Electoral College without a constitutional amendment.

National Popular Vote Issues

NPV leaves the Electoral College structure but eliminates its effects thus doing away with its benefits. This would lead to uncertainty, instability, and a constitutional crisis.
NPV has no standards for which candidates are on the ballot, who gets to vote, how votes are counted, and when or how they are recounted, violating basic democratic norms and constitutional protections.
NPV would encourage more candidates (especially self-funding billionaires—think Michael Bloomberg) to run, leading to future Presidents elected with smaller and smaller pluralities.

“NPV founder John Koza calls his plan an “end run” around the Constitution. The original intent and purpose of the Electoral College is a state-by-state election. Because NPV violates the basic purpose of the Electoral College, it is probably unconstitutional.”

Save Our States Founder & Executive Director, Trent England

NPV In the States

Alaska: An NPV bill was introduced in the Alaska Senate. If passed, it would give away Alaska’s electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote.

Arizona: Two bills relating to NPV were introduced in the Arizona state Legislature. The Senate bill would have Arizona join the compact, while the House bill would affirm the legislatures support for the Electoral College. The House bill passed and is pending in the Senate.

Connecticut: Two repeal bill were introduced in the Connecticut House of Representatives. If passed, they would remove Connecticut from the compact, dealing a blow to NPV.

Florida: An NPV bill was introduced in the Florida House, and another was introduced in the Florida Senate. If passed, they would give away Florida’s electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote.

Idaho: A resolution affirming the state legislatures support for the Electoral College passed the Idaho State Elections Committee.

South Carolina: Two bills relating to NPV were introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives. One would have South Carolina join the compact, and the other bill affirms the states legislatures support for the Electoral College.

Texas: An NPV bill was introduced in the Texas House, and another bill was introduced in the Texas Senate. If passed, they would give away Texas’ electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote.

Minnesota: An NPV bill was introduced in the Minnesota House and another bill was introduced in the Minnesota Senate. If passed, they would give away Minnesota’s electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote. Both bills passed their respective Elections committees.

Missouri: Two NPV bills were introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives. If passed, they would give away Missouri’s electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote.

New Jersey: Two repeal bill were introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly. If passed, they would remove New Jersey from the compact, dealing a blow to NPV.

An Electoral College Champion

Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard introduced a resolution affirming the legislatures support for the Electoral College.

“It’s the current process we use to pick the president and vice president,” Scott said. “It ensures checks and balances and makes sure the voices of smaller states are heard.”