June 20, 2008 - 12:35pm
220
By Wally EdgeIt's been a while since we checked in on state legislation designed to instill the national popular vote as the method for selecting the president.
Maryland was the first state to enter this interstate compact which pledges a state's electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, thus when enough states equaling 270 delegates in the Electoral College pass the bill, the popular vote automatically go to the national popular vote winner.
No one thought much of Maryland's 10 electors at the time, except for the group's organizers who had had a string of defeats. But in December, New Jersey brought another 15 to the table. And in recent months, both Illinois and Hawaii (where a gubernatorial veto was overridden) have signed their bills into law, bringing the total to 50 electoral votes, and thusly needing another 220 to displace the Electoral College.
Long story short: what once seemed like another trivial attempt could end up a trophy on Gov. Martin O'Malley's mantle in re-making the way we elect presidents.
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Wally Edge
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Quote of the Day
August 21, 2008
"I'll be blogging live everyday from the Convention to keep you up-to-date on all of the important developments, so be sure to check my campaign blog at www.franchot.com/blog. Stay tuned to my website for videos, stories and convention coverage from a Maryland perspective."
- Comptroller Peter Franchot, on his blog.
- Franchot Blog, 08/19/08
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It's on the desk of the Governor of Rhode Island now
Update:
Yesterday it passed the second legislative house in Rhode Island, and awaits action by the Governor of Rhode Island within ten days.
Not a chance
Does anyone seriously think that Maryland will give its electoral votes to a Republican who won the national popular vote rather than a Democrat who won by 18 points here? Or the reverse case in, say, Utah?
There's absolutely no way. If you thought the Florida recount was bad, imagine post-election constitutional law battles in 20 different states. Not good.
The best thing that could happen to this country would be for Obama to win the electoral college while McCain wins the popular vote - then we can put all the electoral college whining behind us.
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