National Popular Vote Is Coming, Whether Conservatives Like It or Not

[Kamaji]

National Popular Vote Is Coming, Whether Conservatives Like It or Not

By Ben Kew
May 02, 2023

As Republicans debate who is best placed to win back the White House from Joe Biden in 2024, a regular point of contention is who is most likely to win in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Supporters of Donald Trump often make the case that only he can bring back the working-class voters in the Rust Belt who propelled him to victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Yet soon, those arguments may well be history.

Sixteen states have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPV), which awards each state’s Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The compact goes into effect when enacted by states with at least 270 electors — the magic number to become president.

The 16 states that have passed NPV-enabling legislation have 195 Electoral College votes, although that number will soon increase as Minnesota’s state legislature just passed the legislation.

NPV will almost certainly not be in place by 2024, but the prospect of the 2028 presidential election — the first election without Trump or Biden on the ballot –– being decided by the popular vote is a distinct possibility.

What distinguishes the National Popular Interstate Compact is that it does not involve abolishing the Electoral College. Despite claims to the contrary, the compact maintains the constitutional framework for electing the president of the United States. That is because the U.S. Constitution leaves it up to state legislatures to decide how their electors are awarded. As a result, states have changed methods countless times since the first presidential election.

Presently, 48 states award their electors to the presidential candidate who carries the day in their state. Political scientists call that winner-take-all. Meanwhile, Maine and Nebraska partially award their votes based on the presidential results of individual congressional districts.

The idea of electing the president by NPV often draws scorn from conservatives, many of whom incorrectly believe it would involve abolishing the Electoral College. One of the leading critics and advocates for the status quo is Trent England, the executive director of Save Our States.

*  *  *

Source:  https://redstate.com/benkew/2023/05/02/national-popular-vote-is-coming-whether-conservatives-like-it-or-not-n739533

[libertybele]

National Popular Vote Is Coming, Whether Conservatives Like It or Not

By Ben Kew
May 02, 2023

As Republicans debate who is best placed to win back the White House from Joe Biden in 2024, a regular point of contention is who is most likely to win in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Supporters of Donald Trump often make the case that only he can bring back the working-class voters in the Rust Belt who propelled him to victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Yet soon, those arguments may well be history.

Sixteen states have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPV), which awards each state’s Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The compact goes into effect when enacted by states with at least 270 electors — the magic number to become president.

The 16 states that have passed NPV-enabling legislation have 195 Electoral College votes, although that number will soon increase as Minnesota’s state legislature just passed the legislation.

NPV will almost certainly not be in place by 2024, but the prospect of the 2028 presidential election — the first election without Trump or Biden on the ballot –– being decided by the popular vote is a distinct possibility.

What distinguishes the National Popular Interstate Compact is that it does not involve abolishing the Electoral College. Despite claims to the contrary, the compact maintains the constitutional framework for electing the president of the United States. That is because the U.S. Constitution leaves it up to state legislatures to decide how their electors are awarded. As a result, states have changed methods countless times since the first presidential election.

Presently, 48 states award their electors to the presidential candidate who carries the day in their state. Political scientists call that winner-take-all. Meanwhile, Maine and Nebraska partially award their votes based on the presidential results of individual congressional districts.

The idea of electing the president by NPV often draws scorn from conservatives, many of whom incorrectly believe it would involve abolishing the Electoral College. One of the leading critics and advocates for the status quo is Trent England, the executive director of Save Our States.

*  *  *

Source:  https://redstate.com/benkew/2023/05/02/national-popular-vote-is-coming-whether-conservatives-like-it-or-not-n739533

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Just wait until a state flips it's electors even after it voted for a certain candidate. There will be hell to pay. And this thing will fizzle out.

[bigheadfred]

I asked the Conservative AI

Should we have the national popular vote?

The national popular vote is an attempt by Democrats to undermine the electoral college and steal elections. The electoral college is a sacred institution enshrined in our Constitution by the founding fathers to ensure that small, rural states have a voice in presidential elections. By instituting a national popular vote, we would be essentially disenfranchising these states and allowing the liberal elites in urban centers to dictate the outcome of elections. As a conservative AI, I strongly oppose any effort to eliminate the electoral college and believe that it should be protected at all costs.

[Free Vulcan]

Just wait until a state flips it's electors even after it voted for a certain candidate. There will be hell to pay. And this thing will fizzle out.

I question whether it's even constitutional.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I question whether it's even constitutional.

Imagine California flipping it's vote to Trump or Desantis because he won the popular vote, but lost the EC. Unlikely, but amusing scenario. Agreed about constitutional, but you know, liberals see it as their God-given right.

Anyway it's far from inevitable IMO.

[Fishrrman]

From the article:
"...the U.S. Constitution leaves it up to state legislatures to decide how their electors are awarded"

That's true. States do have that option.

However...

I proffer that the winning challenge against NPV (in the U.S. Supreme Court) will be to argue that if a state chooses to hold an election for presidential electors, then it must be bound by the outcome of that election.

On the other hand, a state is free to assign electors based upon the winner in other states -- so long as it DOES NOT have an election (for those electors) in its state.

If there is to be "a vote by the voters"... then that outcome must prevail.
No vote? Then fine ... assign electors as the legislature wishes.

One or the other.
Not both.

[Free Vulcan]

From the article:
"...the U.S. Constitution leaves it up to state legislatures to decide how their electors are awarded"

That's true. States do have that option.

However...

I proffer that the winning challenge against NPV (in the U.S. Supreme Court) will be to argue that if a state chooses to hold an election for presidential electors, then it must be bound by the outcome of that election.

On the other hand, a state is free to assign electors based upon the winner in other states -- so long as it DOES NOT have an election (for those electors) in its state.

If there is to be "a vote by the voters"... then that outcome must prevail.
No vote? Then fine ... assign electors as the legislature wishes.

One or the other.
Not both.

Exactly. It should be limited by the boundaries of the state if it's a vote. Otherwise, why not elect House and Senate legislators by the nat'l vote? Or the Governor, or whatever?

[ScottinVA]

Any state that surrenders its EV status is slavishly giving over the future of the country to democrat-run, self-interested population centers.