States
State-by-state information about NPV and other Electoral College issues.
Wisconsin NPV debate roundup
Last week AB 751’s express trip from introduction on February 15 to a hearing on February 17 caused a stir in the Wisconsin papers and blogosphere. While Save Our States Director Trent England was on the ground there, I jumped into the cyber world to see how Wisconsin voters were responding to the bill. Almost... »
Talking Electoral College versus NPV on Crosstalk
A big thanks to host Jim Schneider and the crew at Crosstalk radio for today’s discussion of the Electoral College versus National Popular Vote. It was my pleasure to be on the program and to talk with so many listeners from around the country. You can visit the Crosstalk website for a description of the... »
NPV bill loses cosponsors
Last week was a lousy one for California-based National Popular Vote. After hiring six lobbyists and spending $80,000 lobbying in Madison, Wisconsin, they got Assembly Elections Committee Chairman Jeff Smith to schedule the bill for a hearing with less than two day’s public notice. And NPV’s lobbyists had convinced three Republicans to join the... »
Alaska considers popular vote
On Friday, Alaska’s Senate Judiciary Committee heard the state’s National Popular Vote bill (SB 92). The measure actually already passed the State Affairs Committee with the support of Senators Linda Menard, Hollis French (who chairs the Judiciary Committee), and Albert Kookesh. (Watch the Judiciary hearing.) Alaska, the largest state by landmass but with one of... »
NPV’s Frivolous Polling
As I walked through the Wisconsin State Capitol last week talking with legislators and legislative staff, I saw the effects of citizens in action. Throughout the day, radio stations were alerting listeners about the bill. Several legislative staff members told me that calls and emails were coming in strong–and strongly against NPV. The experience illustrates... »
National Popular Vote versus Wisconsin
Mid-morning on Tuesday, two emails alerted me that Wisconsin’s NPV bill (AB 751) had suddenly been introduced and scheduled for a hearing before the Assembly Elections Committee—on Wednesday afternoon, the very next day. Could I come to Madison, one legislator asked, and help educate citizens and other lawmakers and perhaps testify at the hearing? Barely... »
NPV Fails in Augusta
Maine’s National Popular Vote bill (LD 56) was brought to the House floor and solidly defeated on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. The vote was 95 against and only 50 for the bill. The floor action came just two weeks after the Save Our States visit to Augusta. Much of the credit for this victory goes... »
Will Vermont make itself irrelevant with NPV?
Few states stand to lose more under National Popular Vote than Vermont. As both a low population and low population density state, Vermont is the classic “small” state. The Electoral College gives Vermont a political boost. The National Popular Vote plan, on the other hand, would pull the political rug out from under Vermont. Consider this:... »
One morning in Maine
It was my pleasure to spend my morning in Augusta at Maine’s State Capitol complex. I not only met a great bi-partisan group of state legislators, but also bumped into NPV’s own Chris Pearson. A member of National Popular Vote’s board of directors, Pearson is a former one-term Vermont state representative. A Progressive Party member,... »
Saving Maine from NPV
Even my short stay in the Newark Airport was a reminder how different parts of America can be … well, different. New Jersey is distinct from Washington State and Massachusetts, the states on either end of my flights this morning. Think about just how vast and diverse is our nation, our United States. Smaller and more... »
Hitting the road
Last year, in addition to our educational activities in Washington State, Save Our States visited Nevada and was assisted allies in Oregon and Colorado as well. While NPV was signed into law in Washington, it stalled in the other three states as legislators began asking questions and constituents made their voices heard. So tomorrow I... »
“Wisconsin would lose big time!” under National Popular Vote
Wisconsin has made it onto NPV’s list of targeted states. Dave Zweifel’s Madison.com article, “Using popular vote to elect president is the way to go,” parrots one of the National Popular Vote organization’s most often-used (and faulty) arguments: that because the Electoral College motivates candidates to campaign in some... »