By California Political Desk
Published June 20th 2007 in California Chronicle
(SACRAMENTO) -- Legislation authored by State Senator Carole Migden to change the way the President of the United States is elected was approved yesterday by the Assembly Elections & Redistricting Committee today on a 5-1 vote.
Senate Bill 37 is part of a national effort to implement a direct, national popular vote for President. Identical legislation is pending in 40 states and has more than 320 legislative sponsors. SB 37 and the other legislation across the country will not go into effect until states representing a majority of the country have approved it. The plan was signed into law in Maryland in April.
“It is astounding to me that the world’s greatest democracy does not directly elect the President by a vote of the people,” said Migden (D-San Francisco/Marin/Sonoma Counties). “The Electoral College is an antiquated institution that has outlived its usefulness. A national popular vote for President will, for the first time, make every vote equal. A vote in California will be as sought after as a vote in Ohio or Florida. That is not currently the case.”
16 or so “battleground states.”
“If a candidate does not have to actively campaign in California, it follows that they will not be well versed in the issues important to our state. Candidates will come to California to raise money, but will continue to avoid discussing California issues,” declared Migden. “A national popular vote will change that dynamic and force candidates for the first time to campaign not only in California, but also across the nation.”
Senate Bill 37 now proceeds to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. More information is available at www.nationalpopularvote.com.
FairVote Blog
Senate Bill 37 is part of a national effort to implement a direct, national popular vote for President. Identical legislation is pending in 40 states and has more than 320 legislative sponsors. SB 37 and the other legislation across the country will not go into effect until states representing a majority of the country have approved it. The plan was signed into law in Maryland in April.
“It is astounding to me that the world’s greatest democracy does not directly elect the President by a vote of the people,” said Migden (D-San Francisco/Marin/Sonoma Counties). “The Electoral College is an antiquated institution that has outlived its usefulness. A national popular vote for President will, for the first time, make every vote equal. A vote in California will be as sought after as a vote in Ohio or Florida. That is not currently the case.”
16 or so “battleground states.”
“If a candidate does not have to actively campaign in California, it follows that they will not be well versed in the issues important to our state. Candidates will come to California to raise money, but will continue to avoid discussing California issues,” declared Migden. “A national popular vote will change that dynamic and force candidates for the first time to campaign not only in California, but also across the nation.”
Senate Bill 37 now proceeds to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. More information is available at www.nationalpopularvote.com.
FairVote Blog
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.