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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHolmes’ proposal gives more clout to popular vote for president
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Democratic legislator wants to change the way American presidents are elected, and he wants the Georgia General Assembly to help.
State Rep. Bob Holmes (D-Atlanta) believes the candidate who gets the most popular votes should become president.
Currently, candidates for president are elected by an Electoral College process established in the Constitution. A candidate who gets 270 Electoral College votes is elected. States with larger populations — such as California, Texas and New York — have more Electoral College votes, which means presidential candidates spend a large amount of their time campaigning in those bigger key states.
Holmes doesn’t think that’s right, so he filed House Bill 630. Under the bill, states would be able to approve an interstate compact that allows electors to cast their votes for the candidate who wins the popular vote. For example, if the majority of Georgia voters cast their ballots for a Republican candidate, but the Democratic candidate won more popular votes throughout the U.S., Georgia’s electors would be required to give their Electoral College votes to the Democratic candidate.
If enough states — with 270 of the 538 Electoral College votes needed for victory — agree to the compact, it would ensure that the candidate with the most popular votes gets elected. Holmes said such nterstate compacts are allowed by the Constitution, though they appear to require congressional approval.
Four presidents throughout history have won the office without a popular vote. President Bush was the last, winning office in 2000 even though Democrat Al Gore received more popular votes.
Holmes could not get a Republican co-sponsor and he acknowledges the bill faces a tough time in the GOP-controlled House.
But Holmes said he at least wants to start a discussion on the subject. And he notes Republicans could eventually be on the receiving end of losing the popular vote.
“The president of the United States is the most powerful office in the world,” Holmes said today. It is, however, the only office in the world that a person can be elected to and receive fewer votes than the person that he defeats.”
Holmes said changing the process will also help make sure that presidential candidates campaign in states other than so-called “battleground” states where large Electoral College votes are at stake.
Holmes said polls show Americans favor a national popular vote plan by 70 percent.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: politics
Comments
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By waz
February 28, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Right on. As soon as the democrats go along with a picture I.D and proof of being legal to vote.
By Eldon
February 28, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
Great, another politician who wants to change the constitution to fit thier agenda.
By Pompano
February 28, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
Holmes now intends to introduce a resolution for the states to issue an apology for the practice of using the Electoral College. Following that, he’ll propose reparations for all Gore supporters.
By Alex
February 28, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Why does this have to be partisan issue? Why would republicans be against electing the President by popular vote, as is done in just about every nation that has a president. Republicans are always touting their party as promoting “democracy” around the world (as if democrats don’t). Well, let them prove it in our country. Let them, first, quit trying to deny, dissuade, and/or frustrate voting opportunities of those people who don’t vote republican and, second, let them promote the popular vote for president idea (which is, incidentally, the truly democratic way to do it). The electoral college is archaic and undemocratic, and probably (along with the “3/5” rule in the early constitution)adopted to give proslavery states more political clout. This nation needs to finally get rid of this vestige of slavery.
By H. Stan Boring
March 1, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
The Electoral College was designed to protect voters in smaller states, and give them some say in the election of presidents. Given the demogarphics of population, large states would have an unfair advantage. The current system has worked fine for over two hundred years. The heartland matters in preserving American values. I suspect teh Supreme Court would not uphold such a scheme in any case, without an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.