Similarly, because a national campaign mandates a national message, there would also be a smaller incentive for coalition-building or taking into account the characteristics, needs and desires of citizens in differing states and regions. Join the thousands across the country who instantly rally when there is a threat to our democracy. 41 States (with 80% of U.S. population) will be Ignored in the 2024 Presidential Election. Learn more about how the National Popular Vote compact works and the ways it could make our elections better for everyone. Under the current structure of the electoral college, the focus of a presidential campaign is on the so-called battleground states. There would be fewer opportunities to illegally alter the results of an election. Many of these states dont participate in campaign visits or get televised ads. It could encourage voter turnout. Probably the NPV Compact would be enacted into law with as little as a simple majority of the states and possibly even less. Today the Democrats want to replace the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system with a direct popular vote and the Republicans adamantly want to keep it. The Electoral College is very undemocratic and riddled with issues. It would require an Amendment in the U.S. for presidential elections. The country could become less stable and divided if he or she did not have a vast amount of support (Richards). A Critique of the National Popular Vote October 13, 2008 Policy Analysis No. That view of democracy recognizes the existence and desirability of organized interests and enshrines that principle under the concept of pluralism. But NPV could force our electors to disregard the wishes of the . While we look further into the National Popular Vote, lets investigate some of its pro and cons for the American democracy. Our state will likely vote overwhelmingly for the Republican challenger to Barack Obama in November. A plan to enact the National Popular Vote was introduced in the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday. However, this also means that regions with a quite low population density will almost have no influence on the election outcome at all since they only have far too few votes to make a real difference. Definition and Examples, Learn How Many Total Electoral Votes There Are. The last amendment, the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, was ratified nearly 200 years after it was originally proposed. Longley, Robert. To take effect, the National Popular Vote bill must be enacted by the state legislatures of states controlling a total of 270 electoral votes - a majority of the overall 538 electoral votes and the number currently required to elect a president. A popular vote structure would virtually eliminate the idea of a third-party candidate having a chance in an election. June 7, 2022 . "The National Popular Vote Plan." Electoral college reform proposals include (1) the district plan, awarding each state's two at-large electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winners, and one electoral vote to the winning candidates in each congressional district; (2) the proportional plan, awarding electoral votes in states in direct proportion to the popular vote gained Nevada passed the legislation in 2019, but Gov. The itineraries of presidential candidates in battleground states (and their allocation of other campaign resources) demonstrate what every gubernatorial or senatorial candidate in every state already knows namely that when every vote matters, the campaign must be run in every part of the state. However, Hilary Clinton won 2.6 million more popular votes nationwide than Donald Trump. mike matarazzo last photo. Louisiana voters should decide who receives Louisiana's electoral votes. and our Around six-in-ten U.S. adults (63%) say the way the president is elected should be changed so that the winner of the popular vote nationwide wins the presidency, while 35% favor keeping the current Electoral College system, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 27-July 4, 2022. Because of the Winner-Take-All state laws candidates for president only campaign and spend their money in 12-13 swing states because voters in those few swing states determine who wins the election and presidential candidates totally ignore voters in the rest of the country(except to raise money). With the polarization in global politics today, especially in the United States, a switch to the popular vote would likely increase costs even further. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Bush and Al Gore (Black). Evidence as to how a nationwide presidential campaign would be run can be found by examining the way presidential candidates currently campaign inside battleground states. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. The NPV movement seeks to create an unfair and unconstitutional system that diminishes the voting rights of citizens throughout the country and raises the prospect of increased voter fraud and. E pluribus unum -- out of many, one. Since the Constitution and the Bill of Rights became governing documents in the United States, there have only been 17 amendments made to it. The states' approval of the compact is a victory for democracy and the principle of "one person, one vote." Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections: The Electoral College, University of the Pacific: Electoral College Reform, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School: The Electoral College. 5. Two-thirds of the campaign events were in four states, Florida, Iowa, Virginia, and Ohio, that year. All other votes cast for that candidate are therefore superfluous. However, a popular vote system, although hard to implement, is a more purely democratic system than the Electoral College. Weve already seen this issue take place with the GOP primaries in 2016. Here are the Cons of the Electoral College 1. It would limit the influence of local issues in the election. Change). Lincoln Chafee (D) made his state the latest to sign on. Under the electoral college system, the candidates which receive the most votes in each state (or district) receive its assigned electoral votes. The winner would receive all of the compact states electoral votes, giving them at least the necessary 270 to win the White House. All other elections in the U.S. are through the popular vote. Battleground states would disappear in U.S. elections. Robert Longley is a U.S. government and history expert with over 30 years of experience in municipal government and urban planning. When the Constitution was set in place in 1789, the U.S. elected its first president. Thats how politics works in America. List of the Cons of Proportional Representation. State Question 820 lays out a statutory framework for a recreational industry that would begin about 90 days after election results are certified. On a close popular vote, often defined as a difference of 0.5% or less in the tabulated results, an automatic recount would likely be triggered. As a result, the percentage of popular votes secured by Donald Trump was just 46.4% in comparison with Hilary Clinton, who secured 48.5% of the votes. Instead, each state and Washington D.C. is assigned a certain number of electoral votes based on its population. F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were elected with less than a majority of the votes cast. List of the Cons of Using the Popular Vote 1. The winner-take-all rule is not required by the Constitution and was actually used by only three states in the nation's first presidential election in 1789. I am confident that when we enter the next phase where the popular vote leans Republican that Republicans will change and be adamant that we should elect the president by direct popular vote and Democrats will be arguing why we should keep the Electoral College/Winner-Take-All system. 5. Part of HuffPost Politics. Under the plan, Michigan's 15 Electoral . 6. Then, election officials in all participating states would choose the electors sworn to support thepresidential candidate who received the largest number of popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. On April 15, 2014 Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York State quietly signed into law the National Popular Vote, making New York the 10th state -- along with the District of Columbia -- to support this effort, while also boosting the total numbers to 165 of the 270 electoral votes needed to make a true national popular vote a reality. Advantages of the NPV Interstate Compact 1. This brings us to 196 of the 270 (73%) electoral votes needed to activate the pact just 74 votes away. That nightmare may seem like a pleasant dream if NPV has its way. 2015. If that was to take place, America could potentially face the same issues it is facing now. During the 2012 elections, 38 states, also known as spectator states, were ignored and forgotten. 1. We have seen this outcome in the 2016 Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and in the 2000 election between George H.W. A popular vote system would significantly impact voters and turnout. But we're closer to that than you might think 15 states and the District of Columbia have already signed on, providing 196 electoral votes of the needed 270. As with other powers entrusted to the states, it is an application, not a circumvention, of the Constitution when the states utilize those powers as they see fit. As a result, an agreement between a group of states to cast all of their electoral votes in a similar manner, as proposed by the National Popular Vote plan passes constitutional muster. In the case of a tie, there are contingencies in place to determine which person will serve in the elected office. After all, the Electoral College makes it possible that a candidate who wins the majority of the votes could still lose the election. Under the National Popular Vote plan,the compact would take effect only when enabling legislation has been enacted by states collectively possessing a majority of the electoral votes:270 of 538 total. Note: Today we are in a phase where the popular vote in presidential elections leans Democratic. The National Bonus Plan maintains the Electoral College voting system but adds 102 bonus electoral votes to the existing 538 votes. Cookie Notice They have only won the popular vote once. . And in all states but Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who receives the most votes in that state is awarded all of its electoral votes, whether the split is 51% to 49% or 99% to 1%. Published: Mar. The selection of presidential electors is specifically entrusted to the states by the Constitution. How Many Electoral Votes Does a Candidate Need to Win? Because of the winner-take-all rule, a candidate can be elected president without winning the most popular votes nationwide. Hence, the National Popular Vote plan is an interstate compact a type of state law authorized by the U.S. Constitution that enables states to enter into a legally enforceable, contractual obligation to undertake agreed joint actions, which may be delayed in implementation until a requisite number of states join in. The compact is designed to ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide is elected president, and it . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The National Bonus Plan was proposed by historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Dont know what Ranked Choice Voting is? https://www.thoughtco.com/the-national-popular-vote-plan-3322047 (accessed March 4, 2023). 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. To date, the bill has passed at least one legislative chamber in 9 states possessing 82 combined electoral votes: AR, AZ, ME, MI, MN, NC, NV, OK, and OR. Proportional Plan 13 Early College High School Pros and Cons, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. If the presidential election were switched to the popular vote, then it would only take about 35% of the vote for a candidate to win. As of now, 15 states and Washington, D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote compact: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Delaware and Oregon. One of the biggest reasons why voters dont vote is because they feel like their vote doesnt count. The appeal of NPV is the simplicity of its message. what connection type is known as "always on"? ashburnham school committee; its his baby now political cartoon meaning; softstar primal sawyer This advance is referred to as the winner-take-all approach. But for those people who feel that changing how we elect the president should only be done by constitutional amendment they will feel that using the NPV Compact will undermine the legitimacy of the process even though its perfectly legal and constitutional. The National Popular Vote plan would eliminate what critics of the Electoral College system point to as the "winner-take-all" rule - the awarding all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in that state. The National Popular Vote (NPV) refers to the concept of allocating a state's presidential electors to the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide regardless of the state results in a presidential election. This is a situation that has caused controversy in the election years of of 1800, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016 when the elected president won the Electoral College and the presidency but did not win the popular vote. Yes. Once effective, states could withdraw from the compact at any time except during the six-month window between July 20 of an election year and Inauguration Day (January 20). Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? (LogOut/ That means a candidate who receives a majority of their votes in a high-delegate state, such as California, could make a dramatic impact on the rest of the election. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria, Samploon, Inc. 2022. It would reduce the influence of third parties on the U.S. presidential election. Since 2008, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), which is an multi-state agreement to commit electors to. How about receiving a customized one? The popular vote eliminates this issue too. As the National Popular Vote (NPV) movement steps up its effort to impose a direct election for president, attempting to enlist states with a sufficient number of electors to constitute a majority (268) and to bind them to the winner of the national popular vote, those states considering the proposal might first reflect on the nightmare aftermath Analyzes how william c. kimberling, the deputy director of the federal election commission, is a credible author over the issue. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomans will head to the polls March 7 to decide if the state will become the 22nd in the country to legalize recreational marijuana for use by anyone 21 and older. This text is available online and is used for gudiance and inspiration, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. For example, if a candidate was very popular in New York City, Los Angeles and other large cities, she might not need to earn votes from other areas of the country. It is perhaps the most simplistic form of an election. Instead, it modifies the winner-take-all rule in a way its supporters say would assure that every vote will matter in every state in every presidential election. Because every vote is equal inside Ohio or Florida, presidential candidates avidly seek out voters in small, medium, and large towns. Although this may limit the amount of diversity that occurs in office, and may generate extra financial costs, the argument could be made that these risks outweigh the results of an election where a majority of states, not a majority of people, put someone into office. That principle should be expanded to presidential elections. If the National Popular Vote bill was secured within the American government, it would protect every vote and would allow those votes to equally matter in the presidential election. Longley, Robert. Get breaking news and updates from Common Cause. But in practice it could happen every 10 or 20 years when the Electoral College votes change because the congressional boundaries change with the new population census. Voters in spectator states, including five of the nations 10 most populous states (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey), and 12 of the 13 least populous states (all but New Hampshire) have no real incentive to go to the polls as their votes do not affect the outcome of the election. Lastly, some Americans believe that there would be an increase in voter turn-out if people felt that their vote was viewed as a significant asset to their country. It has also happened four times out of the 56 presidential elections. This would happen in the extremely unlikely situation where this candidate would win just for one vote in some . For example: States already have the power to award their electors to the winner of the national popular vote, although this would be disadvantageous to the state that did so unless it was joined simultaneously by other states that represent a majority of electoral votes. The states would implement this plan once enough states controlling 270 electoral votes have signed on, guaranteeing that the national popular vote winner will win the presidency.. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the president. However, some critics argue that the advantages of a direct popular election including reflecting democratic principals, outweigh the disadvantages. Web. Right now, the President of the United States is not elected by a popular vote. Imagine a scenario where a presidential candidate focuses on Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, OR and Seattle. tobin james the blend 2017 ; real estate marketing solutions; cons of the national popular vote plan; lassi kefalonia shops cons of the national popular vote plan In 2016, Hillary Clinton had more than 10 million of these votes, while Donald Trump had more than 8.3 million, even though Trump won 30 states and Clinton won 20 and the District of Columbia. It happened once, in 1876. It is our national motto and is so for a reason. Some critics argue that more people would vote in a direct popular election, according to the University of the Pacific. ThoughtCo. The discussion around using the popular vote for elections has increased since the results of the 2016 election. The National Popular Vote stems from the winner-take-all approach that validates the presidential candidate interactions with only 4 out of 50 dates during their campaign. Washington, DC 20005, Common Cause pays tribute to our leader, our friend, and a lifelong advocate for our democracy, Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Issues, Ensure Fair Districts & Reflective Democracy, Expand Voting Rights & Election Integrity, Promote Free Speech & Accountability in Media, Protect the Constitution, Courts & Other Democracy Reforms. A candidate may not have to concentrate anymore, but they may have to move their attention to states such as Texas, New York, California, and Alaska. Using the NPV system means that every vote counts the same. (LogOut/ In U.S. history, the electoral college winner has failed to secure the popular vote 5 times. 1, 2023 at 1:16 PM PST. In a direct popular election, a candidate could theoretically win without having broad support throughout the country. All samples were added by students. Because of the state Winner-Take-All rules, which arent even part of the Constitution, they can lead to presidential elections where the winner of the election doesnt have the most popular votes. A simple change in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could fix the flaw and still provide the benefits of a popular election. But with the NPV Compact a change in party control of just one or two states could restore the old system of electing the president and then four years later it could be changed back. It has its pros and cons though, many of which critics debate over. The official 2016 election results from the Electoral College gave Donald J. Trump the victory with 306 electoral votes v. Hillary Clinton's 232 votes. If a party knows either that it can't win a single elector in a state or has an easy road to winning all of them, it sends its resources to where it has a competitive chance.. The electoral requires that an election which does not receive a majority of electoral votes be taken into the U.S. House of Representatives.
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