The Democratic Party | PartyBuilder | Cork in the Water: National Popular Vote law (to reform the Electoral College) becomes law in Maryland

National Popular Vote law (to reform the Electoral College) becomes law in Maryland

By Adam - Apr 3rd, 2007 at 12:57 am EDT

Also listed in: Abolish The Electoral College | Americans for Barack Obama 2008 | Edwards For 2008! | National Popular Vote (Reform the Electoral College)

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We're on our way to eliminating the Electoral College. Here's the update on today's progress, as announced by the bipartisan National Popular Vote organization:

April 2, 2007: "The National Popular Vote bill today passed the Maryland House of Delegates. The bill had previously passed the Senate. The Washington Post has reported that the office of Governor Martin O’Malley has stated that the Governor would sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states will win the Presidency. This state-based plan is a constitutional and politically practical way to implement nationwide popular election of the President�"a goal supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans (70% in recent polls)."

Check out this website for more information. Also, you can join the partybuilder National Popular Vote site here.

Reader Comments

If we do this

By Arius Apr 3rd 2007 at 9:56 am EDT

We should get rid of the Senate and have the House representatives districts unhampered by state borders.

The Senate especially should be gotten rid of because it is just as big a distortion of what the American People want as the Electoral College. Rhode Island has two senators, California has two senators.

If you DON'T want to get rid of the Senate, you really have to ask yourself what your motivation for getting rid of the Electoral College is. In addition, you cannot be both FOR getting rid of it AND believe Bush should not have won in 2004, since he had a majority of the popular votes.

Re: If we do this

By Richard M. Mathews Apr 3rd 2007 at 10:46 am EDT

The great thing about the National Popular Vote approach is that it does not require a constitutional amendment because it is implemented as a contract between the states regarding their existing constitutional power to apportion their electors.

There would be no way to change the nature of the House and Senate without an amendment. Legislatures do not have any authority in this area. Don't let any wish for unrelated change get in the way of this very real possibility of reforming the allocation of electors.

Re: If we do this

By Arius Apr 4th 2007 at 10:00 am EDT

Maryland's change only takes place if most other states change as well. It sounds great until a Republican wins because of the law. Then there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Re: If we do this

By AnneK Apr 3rd 2007 at 2:34 pm EDT

I have never followed through so far as to think about getting rid of the Senate, but I have thought about how disproportionate the representation is.

Re: If we do this

By Adam Apr 3rd 2007 at 3:05 pm EDT

Well, it would certainly be nice if we could change the Senate so that everyone got equal representation (like in the House). But might be hard to do since the Constitution seems to specifically disallow a Consitutional amendment that would do this (read the very last clause of Article V) but then again, the issue of whether there can be an unconstitutional constitutional amendment has never been tested.

Re: If we do this

By Arius Apr 4th 2007 at 9:59 am EDT

Well, if you got rid of the senate, every state would still have equal suffrage in the senate. California would have 0, Rhode Island 0.

Anyway, amendments supercede the body of the document. You just have to word them properly.

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