There has been a lot of talk in the office about the NCSL Legislative Summit next week, and one event that caught my attention was a breakfast to discuss the National Popular Vote movement. I am intrigued by this legislation, so for my second DLCC blog post, I thought I’d try to write a little more about it.

The National Popular Vote bill would award all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This in turn would nationalize the race for the presidency and give a voice to the citizens who do not reside in battleground states (accounting for about two thirds of all voters) and are ignored under the current system.

I write about it here because this movement is one that is being advanced completely by the nation’s legislatures.

Last week the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation to become a member of The Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by the National Popular Vote. The bill won by a 117-36 vote. Massachusetts is the 5th state to pass such legislation joining Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois and Hawaii. These states represent 19 percent of the 270 votes needed to activate the law and elect a president.

Legislation to change to a popular vote system has been introduced in 45 states and is making great progress in a majority of them. This bill currently has 439 sponsors at the state level.

For a much more detailed description of the movement, please visit the National Popular Vote website: nationalpopularvote.com

Megan Hannigan is a Klindt/Dye Intern for the 2008 Summer Semester