League of Women Voters hosts forum on National Popular Vote compact

Share
Interstate Compact status
So far, 15 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to the interstate compact to award electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide.

With Election Day just around the corner, the Florida League of Women Voters on Tuesday hosted a forum on the Interstate Voting Compact, which would ensure the president of the United States is elected by national popular vote. 

Advocates in the national popular vote movement support an agreement among states to award all of a state’s electors to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes nationwide. This approach aligns with the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that the Electoral College choose the president, but gives states the right to determine how those electors cast their votes. 

Called the Interstate Voting Compact, the arrangement would only go into effect after states representing 270 electoral votes, the number needed to win the presidency, have agreed  to join the compact. This would prevent a candidate who loses the popular vote from winning the presidency, which is what happened in 2016 when Donald Trump received 2.9 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton but still won enough electoral votes to become president.  

During a forum sponsored by the Florida League of Women Voters, Kathleen Crampton, chair of Floridians for National Popular Vote, said the compact is a simple way to reform the Electoral College. 

“It works within the electoral college, preserving the tradition, and most importantly it doesn’t require a constitutional amendment,” she said. 

So far, 15 states and the District of Columbia, representing 196 electoral votes,  have passed bills pledging to the compact. A bill introduced in Florida’s last legislative session got no traction. Crampton said her organization hopes to have a bill introduced again next year. 

“Everyone thinks after Nov. 3 we can all relax and the election’s over. For those of us in National Popular Vote, we’re just gearing up because our focus will be on what goes on in Tallahassee.” 

Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orange County was among the lawmakers who co-sponsored the bill last year.

“Every other election in our state is dictated by the popular vote so I think that for a lot of Floridians it’s a process that is common sense and balanced,” Eskamani said. “The next legislative session might bring another opportunity to pursue the Interstate Compact. in the meanwhile, make sure you vote. Please exercise your democratic right and let’s get it done.” 

 

You may also like

‘Everything is on the line’: Tampa voters speak out on election day

It’s Election Day, and voters in Tampa are making sure...

Political reporter William March
Billionaire donors pour money into DeSantis-led campaign targeting Andrew Warren

A dormant political action committee recently received $2.5 million from...

2024 election candidate signs
Election Day conversation with Hillsborough’s Supervisor of Elections

Election Day 2024 in Florida. Hillsborough SoE Craig Latimer plus...

Election Day 2024: Live updates & results

Live election coverage with local newscasts every 20 minutes, real-time...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

Freak Show
Player position: