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On March 5, the Maine House of Representatives passed LD 1578 to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The Senate must do the same.
The population of the United States stands at around 342 million. In the 2020 election, 154.6 million people voted. There are 538 electors in the Electoral College vote with 270 being the golden ticket number. How can 270 be an accurate reflection of the vote of 154.6 million separate, individual voters? I believe that too many voices are being suppressed.
But we are bound to the electoral college constitutionally and it is cumbersome to change. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is a compromise that will modify the electoral college votes’ designation to reflect the national popular vote results rather than the state’s. The coalition needs enough states to voluntarily join to reach 270. Currently it is at 205.
For administrative purposes, the control of tabulating the results and settling disputes would remain with states. The states, as they do now, would designate the electoral votes. Our number would remain four.
I’m not a historian. I don’t understand the Founders’ thinking in designing the electoral college. And I’m not interested. We are a different country now. Originally just male landowners could vote. Now every citizen over 18 can. And dividing our communities by state or blue or red or urban or rural is a false representation of America. Every community is richly diverse with a wide spectrum of beliefs both conservative and liberal. All those voices must count.
Jo Trafford
Portland
