House Passes Bill to Join National Popular Vote Compact

Would Join Five Other States in Supporting Election of U.S. President through Popular Vote

BOSTON – State Representative Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) united with his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation to join an interstate compact ensuring that the candidate who wins the national popular vote is elected President of the United States.

“This initiative will give a strong voice to each and every voter in our presidential elections,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “It is crucial that our elections accurately reflect the will of the people.”

“The vote by the House today puts us one step closer to joining the National Popular Vote compact to ensure that the person who wins the popular vote in all 50 states and District of Columbia becomes President of the Unites States,” said Rep. Michael Moran, House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Four times a President who did not win the popular vote has been sworn into office. This compact will end that possibility. All the members of the House voting on this bill were able to do so because they ran for the office and got the most votes. This compact will allow future Presidents of the United States to say the same thing.”

“Not only will this bill help to create a more democratic process for electing the President, but I think it will also help to encourage civic involvement and greater voter turnout because people will feel more confident that their vote counts,” said State Representative Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton). “I am pleased that this bill takes a step towards ensuring that all citizens have an equal voice in the outcome of presidential elections.”

“I congratulate the Massachusetts House on their actions today in passing a bill that will create a more democratic process for electing the President of the United States,” said Pam Wilmot, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts. “Speaker DeLeo, Election Laws Chair Mike Moran, and the House leadership have demonstrated a commitment to the principles on which this country was founded – that each citizen's voice should be equal to that of any other. The National Popular Vote legislation will, at long last, put an end to an antiquated and problematic institution.”

Under this legislation, Massachusetts would appropriate all of its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote regardless of which candidate garners the most votes in Massachusetts.

There are a total of 538 electoral votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The National Popular Vote compact would only take effect when the combined electoral votes of the participating states reach 270 – the majority of electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

There are currently five states that have joined the National Popular Vote compact by enacting this legislation: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington. These states carry 61 electoral votes. This legislation would add Massachusetts’ 12 electoral votes to the total, giving the compact 27% of the electoral votes needed to take effect.

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