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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 15, 2015 09:29 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Creating a Popular Vote Winner as President |
| In the near future, I will be re-introducing HB 1182 authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join a compact of states to elect the resident by popular vote. The Electoral Vote is a result of an 18th century political compromise that has no meaning in the 21st century. Indeed, few understand how the Electoral College works. A Gallup Poll indicated that a majority of Americans wish to eliminate the Electoral College. When enough states join this compact such that their total Electoral votes equal a majority of the Electoral College, all compact states will cast their Electoral votes for the popular vote winner. This would effectively end the Electoral College without going through a lengthy Constitutional amendment process. The candidate elected to the Presidency should be the individual who receives the most popular votes. The current complex system of “winner takes all” per each state should not decide the Presidency. A losing candidate should not hold this important office. The Electoral College reflects a state’s population. Ironically, states with high proportions of voting citizens find their voting power weakened compared to states with high proportions of people too young to vote and non-citizen immigrants. Pennsylvanians, with relatively fewer young people and non-citizen immigrants, find their influence diluted through the Electoral College. To date, 10 states and the District of Columbia have passed National Popular Vote bills into law, including the border states of Maryland, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Seidl of my office at kseidl@pahouse.net or 787-4117. Previous co-sponsors: B. BOYLE, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, DAVIS, DERMODY, FLECK, FLYNN, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HANNA, MUNDY, PAINTER, PARKER, PASHINSKI, ROEBUCK, STURLA, SWANGER, THOMAS, VITALI, WATERS and WHEATLEY. |
Introduced as HB1542