We want you to be familiar with this movement so you’ll feel confident joining us. Check out some of their frequently asked questions about National Popular Vote. Just click on a question to see the answer!
Why should states adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?
States should adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to ensure that presidential candidates pay attention to the needs of all Americans—not just voters in a few battleground states. Under the current system, a small number of swing states receive disproportionate attention and influence, while the concerns of voters in most states are often ignored. With a national popular vote, the candidate who receives the most votes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia becomes President, giving every voter equal influence and encouraging candidates to campaign and govern with the entire country in mind.
Why don’t we elect our President by national popular vote now?
The United States doesn’t use a national popular vote for President because the system for electing the President was established in the Constitution by the Founding Fathers. The Constitution created the Electoral College, and all 50 states plus the District of Columbia currently use this system to award electors. Abolishing the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment — a difficult and unlikely process.
Isn’t the “winner- take-all” method in the Constitution?
“Winner-take-all” is not in the Constitution, and there is enough evidence that some of the Founders, such as James Madison, were very uncomfortable with the possibility of this system. It wasn’t until several decades after the Constitution was signed that states began individually passing local “winner-take-all” laws. By the end of the 1800s, “winner-take-all” practices had been implemented in 48 states and the District of Columbia; two, Nebraska and Maine, use district voting. These are state laws that have nothing to do with the Constitution.
Wouldn’t the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact require a constitutional amendment?
No. The National Popular Vote is entirely in keeping with the U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section I which gives states the exclusive power to choose how they select and instruct their electors. Just as states chose to adopt the “winner-take-all” laws, they have the power to repeal them. Today they can join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which is an agreement among states that enact National Popular Vote legislation to instruct their electors to select the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
How many states have signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact into law?
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have passed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact into law, accounting for 209 electoral votes—just 61 votes short of the 270 needed for it to take effect.
Does the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact violate states’ rights?
Quite the opposite. Under the National Popular Vote, states maintain their constitutional right to instruct their electors in any way they see fit and thus continue to control national elections as our Founders intended. States can choose to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or not; likewise, they can choose to leave it later on. The electoral system remains unchanged regardless of what method states choose in instructing their electors.
Who’s supporting the National Popular Vote efforts?
Democrats and Republicans support having the winner of the popular vote elected President. Bipartisan organizations such as the League of Women Voters and private citizens work to educate citizens and legislators about the benefits of the National Popular Vote for our country, often without any type of funding. Groups working to reform our electoral system include the National Popular Vote organization, funded primarily by John Koza, a successful inventor, and Fair Vote, which is funded by various foundations.
How can I help in Florida?
Volunteer! Learn how here.