(See: Electoral Votes by State). Using a popular vote system, candidates could campaign regionally, targeting major areas of support, to secure enough votes to win an election. That effectively means that votes in the the 75% of the country that are in swing states effectively dont count at all. All other elections in the U.S. are through the popular vote. That, in turn, would likely diminish voter turnout. The winner would receive all of the compact states electoral votes, giving them at least the necessary 270 to win the White House. In theory we could change how we elect our president every four years. Should that happen, then the final decision of who gets to serve as President of the United States is taken away from individual voters. 805 15th Street, NW, Suite 800 Proponents of the National Popular Vote fail to understand the most basic facts about the American presidential electoral system. National Popular Vote values rural and urban voters equally. And thats not how it should be in a democracy. every decade states are redistricted could be redrawn to capture house seats and corrupt the Presidential election How about receiving a customized one? More people live in urban regions, which means they would have a constant sway over the election. Yes. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. "The National Popular Vote Plan." Under the electoral college system of voting, the number of representatives a state has in Congress (Senators and Representatives) is the total number of electoral votes it is allowed. Make a contribution to support Common Cause today. It could encourage voter turnout. Definition and Examples. Over the long run the countrys popular vote in presidential elections has roughly been equally split between Republican and Democratic.*. To become president of the United States of America, you must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years and be a natural-born citizen. To pass an amendment to change the Constitution the Founding Fathers wisely required approval by 2/3 of both houses of Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures instead of a simple majority. Yet, by May 2021, 15 states and Washington, D.C., had signed onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. 15 states and Washington, D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote compact. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-national-popular-vote-plan-3322047 (accessed March 4, 2023). All states could adopt the system that now exists in Maine and Nebraska, where all but two electors are chosen by congressional district, and the other two go to the statewide winner. ashburnham school committee; its his baby now political cartoon meaning; softstar primal sawyer 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. Just another site cons of the national popular vote plan . A candidate could be elected without the popular vote. It was a great idea in 1787 but the country has changed since 1787 and the people today want to elect the president by a simple, direct popular vote where whoever gets the most votes wins like we do in every other election in the country. Wyoming had just 3 electoral votes, but only had 255,000 voters as well. Popular Vote History & Overview | What Does Popular Vote Mean Here is the entire text of the proposed "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." Tweet Email this More on The Electoral College: Honorable Steve Cohen Currently, 48 of the 50 states follow the winner-take-all rule. Electoral votes are designated among the states based on Census. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. "The National Popular Vote Plan." The popular vote eliminates this issue too. It sees a healthy and vibrant democracy needing the underpinnings of civil society that rests on the sustained and active engagement of the citizenry and promotes approaches that seek to maximize that involvement. Without the popular vote bill, swing states would continue to get more leverage and attention from candidates to ensure that they would be able to capture their votes. Under the plan, Michigan's 15 Electoral . When a popular vote is held for a national office, the election becomes more about platform issues than local issues. The National Popular Vote effort, explained The National Popular Vote effort is now halfway to its goal of electing future presidents via the popular vote, after Rhode Island Gov. Imagine a scenario where a presidential candidate focuses on Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, OR and Seattle. It would eliminate superfluous votes. Constitutional Amendment to Guarantee the Right to Vote for All U.S. Citizens. On Dec. 22, 2016, the results were certified in all 50 states. However, in the popular vote, Trump only received 62,984,825 votes against Hillary Clinton's 65,853,516 popular votes. Bosque de Palabras June 7, 2022 . It makes things easier for extreme parties to gain representation. For the 7 presidential elections between 1992-2016, the Republican candidate has won the Electoral college 3 times. At the moment, 98 more electoral votes are needed to pass this bill in all 50 states (National Conference of State Legislators). Also the NPV Compact allows states to withdraw from the compact as late as four months before an election. Going to the popular vote would eliminate this issue altogether. Their answer is simple: one in which every citizen's vote is equal to every other citizen's vote and one in which the winner of the presidential popular vote, no matter how small his or her percentage is of those who voted, would be elected. 1. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact collectively apportions votes to the winner of the overall popular vote without a constitutional amendment abolishing the electoral college or the assent of Congress. As of December 2020, the bill has been fully adopted predominately by Democratic-majority blue states which delivered the 14 largest vote shares for Barack Obama in the 2012 Presidential Election. After all, the Electoral College makes it possible that a candidate who wins the majority of the votes could still lose the election. It awards all the bonus votes to the winner of the popular vote. The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors and a majority of 270 electoral votes is mandatory to nominate the President. During the 2012 elections, 38 states, also known as spectator states, were ignored and forgotten. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among states and the District of Columbia to award their respective electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote of the presidential election. 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 official 2016 election results from the Electoral College gave Donald J. Trump the victory with 306 electoral votes v. Hillary Clinton's 232 votes. Bush and Al Gore (Black). District Plan CONS Technically still possible, but A LOT hard to do so District 1 = Romney 57% District 2 = Romney 52% District 3 = Romney 70% Gerrymandering. One of the biggest reasons why voters dont vote is because they feel like their vote doesnt count. Inkwell | Everything You Need to Know About the National Popular Vote Battleground states would disappear in U.S. elections. 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. 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 cons of the national popular vote plan. 1. The alternative view of democracy is more complex; it is one that includes but is not limited to the pursuit of equality. Advantages & Disadvantages of a Direct Popular Election Like most issues involving politics, the U.S. Constitution is largely silent on the political issues of presidential elections. 4. Join the thousands across the country who instantly rally when there is a threat to our democracy. 6. Lincoln Chafee (D) made his state the latest to sign on. It would be a national mandate to put someone in office, even if that winning candidate received less than 50% of the vote. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Because every vote is equal inside Ohio or Florida, presidential candidates avidly seek out voters in small, medium, and large towns. Under the electoral college system, the candidates which receive the most votes in each state (or district) receive its assigned electoral votes. It would reduce diversity in the election structures. Privacy Policy. 7. The United States has a representative democracy rather than a direct democracy: Citizens elect representatives rather than voting on each bill. Start and finish your paper with ease. National Popular Vote - Pros and Cons : r/NeutralPolitics - reddit The last amendment, the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, was ratified nearly 200 years after it was originally proposed. Either would provide a reason for both parties to compete in most states because there would be electors to win. Part of HuffPost Politics. (LogOut/ Popular vote better than Electoral College, Stanford scholars say But the national popular vote plan doesn't require a . Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? The discussion around using the popular vote for elections has increased since the results of the 2016 election. The danger of NPV is that it will undermine the complex and vital underpinnings of American democracy. Once enacted, the participating states would cast all of their electoral votes for the presidential candidate winning the nationwide popular vote, thus ensuring that candidate the required 270 electoral votes. Many Americans are confused about how a win is obtained under these conditions and are on a quest to change this traditional statute. 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. However that presumably rare exception happened in the 2000 election when Florida could not complete their statewide recount in time for the Electoral College deadline and the Supreme Court forced Florida to use their first vote count without a statewide recount. Under the electoral college, the majority votes of states assign electoral votes to a candidate, which then creates a majority total required for a victory. Although many supporters of the electoral college argue that a two-party political system is more stable, some critics counter that having more than two parties would give Americans more choice. Regional candidates could secure enough votes to win a national 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. The bill has passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes. The issue raised by the National Popular Vote campaign is fundamental: What kind of a democracy should America be? It is also true that no president since 1824 has received the votes of a majority of the eligible voters and 18 presidents, including Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, John. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. cons of the national popular vote plan - vidasproductivas.org The amendment requires that any change to the rate of compensation for members of Congress can only take effect after a subsequent election in the House of Representatives. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz often split about 60% of the GOP vote, which allowed Donald Trump to win early primaries with 35% of the vote. National Popular Vote Plan page 3 that non-member states that fail to hold such elections will not be included in the determination of 'the national popular vote winner.' This sidesteps the problem and provides an incentive for all states (non-members as well as members) to (continue to) hold such elections. I will explain that in another blog post. 3. Home| Government| Elections| Electoral College| Electoral College Pros And Cons. Cookie Notice In the early 19th century, many states ratified an approach that would allow the candidate with the most votes in that state to be the winner. The appeal of NPV is the simplicity of its message. 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. In 6 Elections, 2 Near-Misses (2020, 2004) and 2 Second-Place Presidents (2016, 2000) National Popular Vote Has Been Enacted into Law in 16 Jurisdictions with 195 Electoral Votes. Security would be improved across the country. Removing this system could encourage more people to come out to support their candidate. Currently, candidates focus more on swing and battleground states to help them gain those electoral votes. The National Popular Vote Bill is not a Democrat or Republican bill. Candidates feel these states need a little bit more of their attention and apply pressure to supply these states with solutions to their problems in order to gain their vote. Moving to the popular vote structure would eliminate this potential issue. 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. It would eliminate the Congressional provisions for a non-majority election. It is not even a liberal or conservative bill. The only election in the United States which is not governed by the popular vote is the presidential election. amazon web services address herndon va custom airbrush spray tan near me custom airbrush spray tan near me You can use essay samples to find ideas and inspiration for your paper. Rebekah Richards is a professional writer with work published in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Brandeis University Law Journal" and online at tolerance.org. cons of the national popular vote plan First it would be relatively easy to implement. Our experts will write for you an essay on any topic, with any deadline and requirements from scratch, Electoral College and National Popular Vote Pros and Cons. Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate The electoral requires that an election which does not receive a majority of electoral votes be taken into the U.S. House of Representatives. Inicio; Nota Biografica; Obra; Blogs. In 2016, Gary Johnson received 4.48 million votes and 0 electoral votes, but the potential is always there for this to happen. Get breaking news and updates from Common Cause. cons of the national popular vote plan Cons of Electoral College. Feb 25, 2023. In summary, a popular vote is simply a vote in which the individual or issue with the most total votes from a population of voters is the winner. The National Popular Vote compact would have the same effect as a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College but has the benefit of retaining the power to control presidential elections in states hands. In the 2020 general election, a ballot proposition attempted to overturn Colorado's membership to the pact, but the measure failed, 52.3% to 47.7% in the referendum. 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. 4. During a popular vote, a candidate who withdraws from the race or dies before the election can be held could still be on the ballot. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that are not affected by this approach. 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. PDF The Direct Election Plan - tesd.net Before the 2016 election, the largest vote deficit in the popular vote was Al Gore securing over 500,000 votes more than George W. Bush. Mayors, governors, and senators are all elected by a simple majority. It understands that while the nation is one union, it is also an amalgam of varying experiences and perspectives arrived at via the settings and unique problems surrounding those who live in different places, and that these differences fall within the broad rubric of federalism. That is hardly a mandate for governing, though it would be taken as such. While we look further into the National Popular Vote, lets investigate some of its pro and cons for the American democracy. Each states electoral votes are tallied by Congress in the House chamber by House and Senate representatives on the 6th day of January following the Presidential election. Actually the NPV Compact doesnt change one word in he Constitution and in fact only changes state laws. 10 Apr. All in all, the Electoral College causes many problems that seem unfair to American voters during such an important election. Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact In the 2016 Presidential Election if the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact had been in effect the winner of the national popular vote, Hillary Clinton, would have become president instead of Donald Trump. Destroying the Electoral College: The Anti-Federalist National Popular If the election is based off a popular vote, each of these areas would need to be closely examined in real-time, which would enhance the security of each vote that is cast. a plan for a national popular vote could undermine the . cons of the national popular vote plan - alshamifortrading.com A popular vote structure would virtually eliminate the idea of a third-party candidate having a chance in an election. The Pros and Cons of the Electoral College - SmartAsset The electoral college is a tradition of American politics that's fairly controversial. Right now, the President of the United States is not elected by a popular vote. This was the intent of the Founding Fathers. National Popular Vote (NPV) - InfluenceWatch The Danger of the National Popular Vote Compact - Harvard Law Review The election is held every four years on the first Tuesday in November and prior to election day, the two candidates endure state-level primaries, caucuses, debates, and conventions. Now, the states are considering the National Popular Vote plan, a system that, while not doing away with the Electoral College system, would modify it to ensure that the candidate winning the national popular vote is ultimately elected president. 622 By John Samples The National Popular Vote plan (NPV), introduced in more than 40 states, and adopted. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria, Samploon, Inc. 2022. 12th Amendment: Fixing the Electoral College, What Is Majoritarianism? A close election would trigger the need for a full recount. The Electoral College - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org A simple change in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could fix the flaw and still provide the benefits of a popular election. The Electoral College: An Overview and Analysis of Reform Proposals In contrast, other issues related to the federal government are not exclusively entrusted to the states, and therefore the states lack the power to alter them. With the polarization in global politics today, especially in the United States, a switch to the popular vote would likely increase costs even further. A direct popular election also ensures that citizens' votes have equal weight. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. National Popular Vote proponents argue that the United States has had four presidential elections in which the plurality winner of the popular vote was not chosen as president. 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. 9. This has occurred in 5 of the nation's 56 presidential elections, most recently in 2016. They have only won the popular vote once. The NPVIC is an agreement among states designed to guarantee election of the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes in the 50 states and Washington, D.C. NPV is grounded in two powers delegated to states by the Constitution: the power to design rules for awarding their electoral votes and the power to enter into interstate If some of the 50 states and DC cannot certify their popular votes by the December deadline that could create a constitutional crisis where we would not have all of the state Electoral College votes certified by the time the Electoral College is required to vote according to the Constitution. 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. Proportional Plan The framers enacted the provisions relating to the Electoral College to allow for state innovation. Electoral College and National Popular Vote Pros and Cons In a closely contested direct popular election, every precinct across the country might require close examination, rather than a handful of states or precincts. Although the 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides clarity to this situation, that process is based on the electoral college. Pros And Cons Of Popular Vote - 558 Words | Studymode As a result, the bill will take effect when enacted by states possessing an additional 74 electoral votes. Activating the National Popular Vote compact would reshape our . Electing a president who did not have broad regional support could lead to a fractured and less cohesive country, according to the Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. That would increase the amount of polarization being experienced in politics today because there would be less of a need to compromise. In the 2016 election, "swing states" that might vote Republican or Democrat like Wisconsin were targets of candidates Donald J. Trump and Hillary R. Clinton. Every state is allocated several votes according to the number of senators and representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation. 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. In 2004, for example, candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry campaigned heavily in states such as Nevada while ignoring political issues in New York, a state that Kerry was sure to win, according to the University of the Pacific. In the U.S., that means people who lean Democratic live in urban areas, while people who lean Republican live in rural areas. 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. 2. Here are six reasons why legislators should reject this attempt to jettison our electoral system: 1. In addition, the bill has been unanimously approved at the committee level in the states of Georgia and Missouri, controlling a combined 27 electoral votes. This text is available online and is used for gudiance and inspiration, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Is It Time to Implement a National Popular Vote in Presidential 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. 9. Dont know what Ranked Choice Voting is? National Popular Vote will create a single member district (all 50 states and D.C.), where the candidate with the most votes wins and . The states that join the NPV Compact will not be able to certify their Electoral College Votes until all 50 states and DC certify their state popular votes and any mandated/requested recounts since the Compact state ECVs are dependent on the winner of the national popular vote and not just their own state popular votes. Americans are still bent up and flustered on how an individual could lose the popular vote, but still, be given the upper hand in Electoral College votes. Each vote would affect each candidate instead of being overlooked due to which state those votes would be coming from. National popular vote - frequently asked questions - Common Cause The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential ticket wins the overall popular vote in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.