NJ Nears Undermining Electoral College

[mcscajun]

Source: AP via NYT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey is close to entering a compact that would eliminate the power of the Electoral College to choose a president if enough states endorse the idea.

The state Senate voted Thursday to approve delivering the state's 15 electoral votes for president to the winner of the national popular vote. The Assembly approved the measure in December and needs Gov. Jon S. Corzine's signature to become law.

''The bill is subject to a thorough review, but Gov. Corzine has long been a supporter of this concept,'' Corzine spokesman Jim Gardner said.

The measure could result in the electoral votes going to a candidate opposed by voters in New Jersey, which has backed Democratic presidential candidates since 1988.

The compact would take effect only if enough states -- those with a majority of votes in the Electoral College -- agreed to it. A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win.

MORE

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Popular-Vote.html

---

We now return you to the continuing coverage of the Iowa Caucus...

[Mojambo]

1. I like this idea as long as it is done in concert with a majority of other states. n/t

[mcscajun]

2. As crafted, it won't need a majority of states, just the states holding the majority of EVs

(Electoral Votes).

Not the same thing.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. It's an intriguing idea, but...

if one party had a majority of votes but the electors went to the other guy, there would be some very pissed off people in that state.

This could mean thousands of local recounts to see just WHO has the most popular votes.

Sounds like a bit of a mess to me-- I'd rather see the electors split along the popular vote, if anything.

[mcscajun]

4. The compact, if it comes about, will deliver all electors to the winner of the national popular vote

regardless of state results.

The article poses that very issue; that the national popular vote might go one way, and NJ's popular vote might have gone another, yet under the compact, NJ's electoral would go to the candidate who got the popular vote nationwide.

Anything else wouldn't "break the back" of the Electoral College and eliminate its stranglehold on Presidential elections.

[msongs]

5. only if ALL states do it - amendment to the US constitution req'd probably nt

[mcscajun]

6. Nope. That's the entire point; to get around the need for a Constitutional Amendment.

Of course, the US Supreme Court could nullify the compact if it were challenged (and I'd imagine there would be several challenges; first one from the Republican Party, which generally opposes this idea.)

If the states holding a majority of the Electoral College votes agree to this compact, they deliver their votes as agreed: done deal within the framework of the Electoral College. Nothing gets disbanded, the rules have just been Bent, not broken.

Again, the USSC may have other ideas.

More here: http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/pages/explanation.php

[Selatius]

11. It'll never become a constitutional amendment; it gives disproportionate power to small states.

They will effectively veto any such attempt. This scheme was envisioned as a way to effectively render the amendment process, as far as this case goes, irrelevant as well as the Electoral College.

[wiley]

7. Go Jersey!

[jgraz]

8. Damn, when did New Jersey become the cool state?

:shrug:

[mcscajun]

10. Hmmm...let's see, now...

I moved there in 1989?

:rofl:

[customerserviceguy]

12. Why does this make Jersey "cool"?

If a Democrat wins the popular vote, NJ already goes along with that, check the history of the last dozen or so Presidential elections. However, if a Rethug wins in flyover country, then one coastal state gives its votes to whoever the hicks in the sticks pick. It might even be Pukeabee.

Now, if we can get the people in UTAH to go along with this, great.

[jaybeat]

13. But the "flyover" states will never be enough to win the popular vote

So this would prevent someone from winning by, say, combining the middle of the country with the South. (Basically the Republican strategy since Nixon, no?)

You're right, NJ won't gain anything, but if a majority of EC votes go along, it would mute an outlier like, say, Ohio (or Florida 2000???!!!) from overturning the popular vote.

[smokey nj]

14. We've always been cool, man! We just like to keep it a secret.

If it gets out, too many people might want to come here and it's hard enough finding a parking space as it is.

[The Wizard]

9. It doesn't matter

The voting machines are still shit.