The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 19, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Maine became the 17th state to join the National Popular Vote Compact April 15th, pledging the state’s Presidential electoral votes to the candidate with the most overall votes nationally. It won’t impact the 2024 election, but brings the national effort within 61 votes of having the candidate with the most votes be the winner.
In five U.S. Presidential elections, the winner had fewer citizen votes, but still won in the electoral college. Most recently, George Bush and Donald Trump had fewer popular votes than Al Gore and Hillary Clinton in 2000 and 2016.
Seventeen states plus the District of Columbia have adopted the National Popular Vote Compact, now representing 209 electoral votes of the 270 needed to activate it. Essentially, the compact is an end-run around having to amend the Constitution, which empowers state parties to select electors through conventions or party elections.
The Maine Morning Star reports that opponents argued the Electoral College system gives power to more rural states. The bill passed only 73-72 in the state House, and 18-12 in the Senate. Governor Janet Mills let LD 1578 become law without her signature.
When additional states join the compact and the total of their electoral votes reaches 270, the compact will be in force, theoretically making the electoral college moot.
Find out more about the National Popular Vote at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
USA.Gov – Electoral College Explainer
National Popular Vote – Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote
League of Women Voters ME – National Popular Vote
Maine Morning Star – Maine Legislature throws support behind national movement to elect president via popular vote
Maine Morning Star – Gov. Mills allows Maine to join National Popular Vote Compact without her signature
Gov. Janet Mills – Governor Mills Allows National Popular Vote Legislation to Become Law Without Her Signature
Groups Taking Action:
National Popular Vote, Stand Up America, FairVote, Common Cause US
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