December 2020 – Updates from the Chair
In the aftermath of 2020, opportunity in 2021.
2020 has been a most unusual year! From Covid-19 and its implications for our economy, to racial challenges, to a contested Election, nothing has gone as might have been expected. Despite these threats, democracy is alive if not somewhat bruised.
The Electoral College and the “winner take all” bills that were passed by the states in the mid – 1800s have caught the attention of politicians and the media. Most people were asleep in the high school when the lectures on Electoral College were given. The result? Few people understand how it works. Nevertheless, many voters have a niggling sense that something is wrong with it. America is the ONLY major democracy that does not elect its president by popular vote. No country would ever establish this system today.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact addresses many of the Electoral Colleges’ problems. With 15 states plus the District of Columbia having 196 or 72% of the electoral votes required for activation of the national popular vote, only another 74 are required. Florida with its 29 Electoral Votes would get us almost 40% of the way there. But it will take a lot of communicating and work to educate Legislators on why passing NPV would be in Florida’s best interest long term. Floridians for National Popular Vote is committed to getting NPVIC bills passed in Florida and across the nation by 2024.
Join us in 2021 to get NPV better understood and on everyone’s radar. First, make sure you have visited our website and filled out the Volunteer Form. This will connect you with like-minded individuals in your area or neighborhood who will be doing things like:
Sending supporting emails/postcards to your local legislators
Writing letters to news outlets
Speaking before community/church/social groups
Connect with NPV leadership in your area (see below) and make a difference in our pursuit of a better democracy. Our website is: Floridiansfornpv.com
National News
Colorado’s NPVIC Affirmed by the Voters!
In the recent election, Colorado voters confirmed that they want their state to be part of the movement to correct some of problems with the Electoral College. Post election polls show the voters chose to keep their state in the National Popular Vote Compact by a margin of 52% to 48%. Including Colorado, the compact has been signed by states that collectively represent 196 Electoral College votes, 74 shy of the 270 needed to win the presidency.
A local grassroots group, “Yes on National Popular Vote” spearheaded the effort to sustain the bill and raised over $4.5 million dollars with the support of the League of Women Voters and Common Cause. Those against the bill were primarily those from rural areas and the Colorado Republican Party.
Congratulations to Sylvia Bernstein and “Yes on National Popular Vote!
https://www.yesonnationalpopularvote.com
Rep Geller filed NPVIC for Florida 2021 Session: HB 39
Sen Torres and Rep Geller spoke at Florida NPV Summit.
Over 60 Floridians gathered on a virtual conference call to plan its legislative strategy for 2021. Keynote speakers were Senator Victor Torres SD 15 and Representative Joseph Geller HD 100. During his presentation, Representative Geller announced that he had just submitted the NPVIC bill HB 39; and Senator Torres pledged to submit the same bill in the Senate before the end of the year.
Torres and Geller focused their comments on how important it is for the Legislators to understand how the NPVIC bill works so they can, in turn, educate their colleagues. Each stressed that constituents need to reach out to them in their district offices (before the craziness of the Legislative session) to demonstrate real concern about the “winner take all” rules and support for the solutions that NPV provides.
Senator Victor Torres SD 15
Representative Joseph Geller HD 100
Eileen Reavey, Grassroots Coordinator for National Popular Vote, Inc. also spoke and shared strategies and tactics that had worked in other states. She reported that in Colorado, they made thousands of phone calls to voters who were registered as “Independents” – a strategy they believe helped their efforts.
Floridians is now poised to begin a campaign of contacting our Florida Legislators. We are awaiting two important events:
Senator Torres filing the NPVIC bill in the Senate (before 2021 I was advised)
The House of Representatives assigning members to its committees.
Once these efforts are completed, each of the Regions and Districts will work together to contact the Legislators on the key House and Senate Committees. The purpose is to educate them/their staff about NPVIC and urge their committee to “hear” the bill in their committees.
NPV Educational Programs
NPV Programs
Below are the available NPV Videos. Just click on “Watch here” to view.
| Interview with MSNBC Political Analyst Rick Tyler & former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis: The Conservative Case for a National Popular Vote Watch here |
| Interview with Former Lt. Gov Michael Steele (R-MD) on his Support of Electing the President by National Popular Vote Watch here |
| Interview with New York Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman on his recent book Let the People Pick the President Watch here |
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Debating the Electoral College at The Cooper Union Watch here
Neal Peirce, author of The People’s President, and Dr. John Koza, Chair of National Popular Vote, debated the Electoral College with Tara Ross, author of Enlightened Democracy: The Case for the Electoral College, and Trent England, Director of Save Our States.MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell moderated this discussion on whether the electoral college is an essential element of our democracy or an obstacle to it.
NPV Webinars
Introduction to National Popular Vote – Webinar
December 22 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT Sign up here
Run time: 45 – 60 minutes
Watch a previously recorded webinar
Learn how we currently elect the President and about our plan to elect the President by National Popular Vote. Electing the President by National Popular Vote is the only reform that makes every vote for President equal and guarantees that whichever candidate receives the most votes becomes the President. Join staff from National Popular Vote to learn how this legislation works, how close it is to reality, and how you can get involved.
270 by 2024 Virtual Conference
National Popular Vote, FairVote, Common Cause, League of Women Voters, and Equal Citizens co-hosted this summit on National Popular Vote, discussing how we can change the way America elects the President by 2024. You can watch a recording here.
Interview with Professor George Edwards III, a presidential scholar and author of the book Why the Electoral College is Bad for America, Watch here
Interview with Former Lt. Gov Michael Steele (R-MD) on his Support of Electing the President by National Popular Vote, Watch here
Interview with New York Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman on his recent book Let the People Pick the President, Watch here
Perspectives on the Electoral College: Is 2020 a Turning Point?
Watch here
This year like all other election years on November 3, 2020, Americans will select their President through the electoral college. With a recent Supreme Court case clarifying states ability to control electors and states representing more than 70 percent of the threshold having enacted legislation to join a National Popular Vote Compact, the status and importance of the electoral college is very much up for debate.
Will the aftermath of the 2020 election change these dynamics? Does the current electoral college system advantage one political party over the other? Is the electoral college a bulwark against fraud or not? Our panelists will weigh in on the likely impacts of the court case, the coming election and other dynamics in helping elucidate what the future holds for the electoral college.
Panelists: Tara Ross, author “Why We Need the Electoral College”, Trent England, Save Our States Project, Pat Rosenstiel, Senior Consultant, National Popular Vote, Eileen Reavey, National Grassroots Director, National Popular Vote, Eli Lehrer, President, R Street, Moderator
NPV Groups
Look for your area and then click on the name along-side to be connected to the NPV District Chair in your area.
County | Name of NPV District Chair
Alachua – Anne Coppenhaver Interim
Bay – Kara Woodson
Broward – Mary Jo Mosca
Citrus – Kate Betsko
Collier – Suzanne Low
Dade – Kristofer Hernandez
Gainesville – Shirley Arcuri
Jacksonville – Pam Edwards-Roine
Lee – Jan Lonsdale
Lower Keys – Marge Holtz
Manatee – Alice Newlon
Martin – Laurie Aguera-Arcas
County | Name of NPV District Chair
North Pinellas – Ellen Siegman
Okaloosa/Walton – Katherine Rudolph
Orange – Louise Thompson
Palm Beach – Cynthia Archbold
Pasco – Christine Bright
Pensacola – Anne Coppenhaver Interim
Sarasota – Vilia Johnson
Space Coast – Sharon Reynold-Mixon
St. Petersburg – Marty Shaprio
Tallahassee – Anne Coppenhaver Interim
The Villages – Helen Kelly
Upper Keys/Monroe – Linda Kaplan
We are looking for NPV Chairs for Pensacola, Gainesville, and Tallahassee. If you are interested or know of someone who is, please contact Anne Coppenhaver at ccopenhaver@me.com. We are also thrilled to have new NPV District Committees sprouting up in Florida. If your area is not listed, contact Anne Coppenhaver who will welcome you and help set you up.
Myth #7
A major reason for establishing the Electoral College was to prevent elections from becoming contests where presidential candidates would simply campaign in big cities.
QUICK ANSWER:
Given the historical fact that 95% of the U.S. population in 1790 lived in places with fewer than 2,500 people, it is unlikely that the Founding
Happenings
NPV District Chair Monthly Meetings (Zoom)
First Thursday of Every Month from 5:30 – 6:30 PM EST
Next dates:
- January 7, 2021
- February 4, 2021
Contact Marcia Herman at marciavotes@gmail.com for an invitation to these meetings.
Volunteers Needed
- A writer to profile volunteers
For more information, please contact Kathleen Crampton.
Donations
We humbly accept your donations to help us do the good work of passing NPV in Florida.
Thank you. Donate here.
NPV Opens “On-Line Store”