Everyone's vote should be equal when electing the president, no matter where they live. FairVote is a leader in the campaign to establish a national popular vote for president, and recommends that political parties establish a schedule and rules to promote all states having a meaningful vote in nomination contests.
Big Wins Continue for National Popular Vote
NPV Legislation Passes Passes House in OR and CO and Senate in WA
On March, 13, the Oregon House and Washington State Senate passed National Popular Vote (NPV) legislation, making it the 24th state house to pass the legislation. With bipartisan support, the Oregon housed passed the bill 39-19, including 8 Republicans. These milestones ride in the wake of other recent success in New Mexico, where the State House also voted to pass NPV legislation. NPV is a national effort to enact an interstate compact ensuring that the winner of the popular vote wins the presidency. The compact will go into effect once states totaling 270 electoral votes enact the legislation. The NPV bill has been introduced in 47 states with a total of 1,246 state legislators endorsing the legislation. Representing nearly a fifth of the necessary electoral votes to implement NPV, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey have already passed the legislation. Recent polls indicate more than 70% of voters support NPV in a full range of states. [FairVote's Case for NPV] [National Popular Vote] [Story in The Oregonian] March 17 Update! [Colorado House 25th Chamber to Pass NPV] |
Advances Mark National Popular Vote Anniversary
NM House Passes NPV Legislation
On February 20, the New Mexico house passed National Popular Vote (NPV) legislation, making it the 23rd state legislative chamber to pass the bill in its short three-year history. The anniversary marks a milestone for NPV, which is on track to reform the Electoral College by 2012. NPV is a national effort to enact an interstate compact ensuring that the winner of the popular vote wins the presidency. The compact will go into effect once states totaling 270 electoral votes enact the legislation.
The NPV bill has been introduced in 49 states and has the support of more than 1,240 state legislators who have sponsored or voted for the legislation. Representing nearly a fifth of the necessary electoral votes to implement NPV, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey have already passed the legislation. Recent polls indicate more than 70% of voters support NPV in a full range of states. LINKS [FairVote's resources on the case for reform] [National Popular Vote] [Rob Richie's blog on New Mexico win] [Sarasota Herald Tribune Jan. 2009 editorial backing NPV] |
FairVote's new report: 98% of attention to 15 states
As the Electoral College prepares to convene on December 15, FairVote has
released a powerful new report on where the major party presidential
campaigns devoted time and resources. More than half of all
resources were devoted to four states, and more than 98% devoted to only
15 states, leaving nearly two-thirds of the country as effective
spectators to the election -- and less likely to vote. But with the
National Popular Vote plan making headway in the states, 2012 promises
elections where all Americans can hold their president accountable.
Press release: 2008's Shrinking Battlegrounds FairVote's Presidential Campaign Tracker 2008 Presidential ad spending Anti-Electoral College piece in Philadelphia Inquirer National Popular Vote |
FairVote's Campaign Tracker attracts media attention
In 2008 the campaigns and the media are heavily focused on the
presidential battlegrounds – to the point where 26 states have not had
a single public event by one of the major party presidential or
vice-presidential nominees since the Republican convention. Boosted by
the work of David Schnicke and Laura Kirshner, FairVote’s new “campaign
trackers” for presidential campaign visits and advertisement spending
has garnered significant media attention.
In October 2008 the NAACP board also gave its final endorsement to the National Popular Vote legislation, thanks to the dedication of FairVote North Carolina’s Torrey Dixon. FairVote’s 2008 Campaign Tracker 2008 Presidential Ad Spending NAACP Resolution to support National Popular Vote National Popular Vote Journal and Courier report on FairVote’s Campaign Tracker Press Release: October 17th update |