A bill has been introduced by Tom Umberg, Chair of the Assembly Elections Committee that would reform the electoral college and make Californians’ votes matter along with that of other states that are ignored because they are not swing states.
This can be accomplished by California and other states under Article 2, section 1 of the U.S. Constitution which allows each state to appoint electors “in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct.”
The idea is to have a number of states enter into a compact that their electors would go to the candidate who received the most votes nationally, regardless of how the individual states voted. If enough join in, then every vote in the country will count.
For those of us who had to travel out of state to make a difference in the last Presidential election (I went to Pennsylvania and ran the Kerry operation in LeHigh County), it would sure be nice to be able to remain in California and work on many local campaigns and have a real incentive to turn out the vote for President as well.
This is part of a national movement. The New York Times endorsed this approach last week.
There is a national group with members from California, called the National Popular Vote.
The Oakland Tribune today ran the story as the main headline of the day.
There is even a book you can read on-line for free.
The bill, AB 2948, will be going to the Assembly Elections Committee. We should get behind it and let our legislators know we like it.
One person, one vote. Read the above links and you’ll find it compelling.
