Local legislators say it’s time for the country to move away from the Electoral College and toward a system that would give the national popular vote more sway in electing a president.
State Reps. Jamie Eldridge of Acton and Cory Atkins of Concord, both Democrats, co-sponsored legislation that, if passed, would make Massachusetts the fifth state in the union to offer to join other states in awarding it’s electors to the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes nationally.
State Sen. Pam Resor, an Acton Democrat, also supports the measure.
The bill passed the House of Representatives July 9 by a vote of 116 to 37(there are only 19 republicans in the MA state legislature), and is expected to reach the Senate (there are only 5 republican senators in MA) floor as early as this week.
The new system, which is being advocated by various groups across the country, wouldn’t go into effect unless a combination of states possessing 270 electoral votes — the number needed to win the presidency — pass similar legislation and join an interstate compact. So far, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey, which control a total of 50 electoral votes, have passed such laws.
Massachusetts has 12 electoral votes.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I notice a number of you posting this. You are all wrong. It won't go into effect until the federal congress(both houses)approve any agreement of a majority(270 EC) with a 2/3 vote. This is in the constitution, it goes with the fact states cannot enter into pacts among themselves without congressional approval. Unconstitutional. This is just BS done by the Dems to protest the fact that they lost the election in 2000 but won the popular vote. Business as usual this year as far as EC votes are concerned.