Proponents Urge Enactment of a Nationwide Popular Vote for President by 2012
For Immediate Release: December 15, 2008
Contact: Pam Wilmot, 617-426-9600 (office) or 617-962-0034 (cell)
BOSTON – At a State House press conference just prior to the meeting of the Massachusetts Electoral College, lawmakers, advocates, and former presidential nominee Michael Dukakis called for a dramatic change in the way we elect the President of the United States.
Supporters want to see the popular vote determine the winner of the next presidential election rather than the current winner-take-all method of assigning electors.
"Under the current system, running for President means just one thing: focus on the so-called 'battleground' or 'swing' states. I did. Barack Obama did. Al Gore and John Kerry did, and their Republican opponents did, too. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that in the past several presidential elections, candidates have spent almost all of their time between Labor Day and Election Day in about six states. That's not healthy, and it's not right," said Governor Dukakis.
"Massachusetts is like the vast majority of states—spectators in the Presidential race," said Rep. Charley Murphy (D-Burlington), House lead sponsor of legislation that would establish a popular vote when adopted by a sufficient number of other states. "The outcome here, and in 2/3 of the states, is not in doubt. That means virtually no presidential advertising in the general election, and no campaigning here. We want to make all votes equal--regardless of whether a voter lives in Massachusetts or in Ohio or in New Hampshire."
Supporters also called attention to the four previous elections, most recently in 2000, when the candidate with less votes was elected President.
"The current system is inherently undemocratic, and has become outdated and obsolete," said Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham) House Chairman of the Election laws Committee, who shepherded the bill through a long House floor debate in July. "In every other election, except for the highest office in the land, the person with the most votes wins. National Popular Vote would rectify this inequity in the process," he said.
Senate lead sponsor Joan Menard (D-New Bedford) added, "Voting is one of our most precious rights and ensuring that all voters have a voice in the electoral process is of utmost importance. This compact solidifies that message. Passage of this legislation can bring states like Massachusetts from the sidelines to the center field. It can make every state a battleground state."
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia wins the Presidency, rather than the current winner-take all method in all states but Maine and Nebraska. The National Popular Vote legislation uses the existing constitutional authority of the states to select presidential electors and another clause in the U.S. Constitution that enables states to enter into legally enforceable joint agreements to elect the President. Under the National Popular Vote compact, states agree to give all of their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote in all 50 states, thereby guaranteeing the popular vote winner a supermajority in the Electoral College. The agreement would take effect only when identical legislation has been enacted by states collectively possessing a majority of the Electoral College— that is 270 of the 538 electoral votes, roughly equal to half of the population, and most likely around 25 states. Currently, there are four states agreeing to the compact—Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, and Hawaii—representing 50 electoral votes.
Proponents are aiming for passage in enough states for it to take full effect in time for the 2012 Presidential election.
The National Popular Vote legislation overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature near the end of formal sessions in July but was one "enactment" vote shy of going to the desk of Governor Deval Patrick. Governor Patrick supports the bill. So too do House and Senate leaders, whom advocates praised for their strong and vocal support.
"Our democratic process would be strengthened by replacing the antiquated Electoral College with an approach ensuring that every vote counts and every state matters," Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. "It's time for the National Popular Vote to be recognized.
"I continue to support the change to a national popular vote as a fairer and more reasonable way to elect presidents and I hope we can implement this change nationally by the next presidential campaign," said House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi (D-Boston).
A coalition of civil rights and good government groups, including Common Cause, MASSPIRG, MassVOTE, the NAACP, Oiste, JALSA, and the Black Political Task Force also called for implementation of the reform, saying that it would increase voter participation and would be more democratic than the current system.
Common Cause Massachusetts Executive Director Pam Wilmot pointed to data from the recent election to back up their call for a popular vote, "Even in this fall's election, which was not even close, and where unprecedented resources were available to the candidates, 98% of the ads and visits were in just 15 states, and over 50% in just 4 states. Massachusetts, like the vast majority of states, was left out. Our role was to give money and to send activists to out-of-state efforts. We're hopeful that by 2012, National Popular Vote will be enacted in enough states to go into effect. When that happens, every vote in every state will be relevant."
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About Common Cause
Common Cause Massachusetts is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, government watchdog, dedicated to citizen participation in an open, honest, and accountable government. An independent, member-supported organization, Common Cause has nearly 400,000 members nationwide and 10,000 in Massachusetts.
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