Connecticut Senate Bill SB00590

Connecticut 2013 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/13
• Refer: 1/24/13

Caption

An Act Concerning An Agreement Among The States To Elect The President Of The United States By National Popular Vote.

Impact

If enacted, this bill would fundamentally alter how votes are counted in presidential elections. States that join the agreement would commit to awarding their electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide, rather than just in their individual state. This change is projected to enhance voter engagement and participation by making every vote count equally, regardless of geographic location. The act has the potential to shift campaigning strategies, as candidates would need to appeal to voters across the entire nation rather than focusing on swing states.

Summary

SB00590 proposes a significant change to the electoral process for electing the President of the United States by establishing an agreement among states to adopt a national popular vote system. The bill aims to supersede the existing electoral college framework, which has been a foundation of presidential elections since the nation's founding. The introduction of this bill indicates a growing movement toward re-evaluating the electoral process to better reflect the will of the voters nationwide, rather than relying on the more indirect electoral college system.

Contention

Nonetheless, the bill faces considerable opposition and debate. Critics argue that moving to a national popular vote could undermine the federal structure of the United States, where states play a crucial role in the electoral process. They fear it might lead to candidates neglecting smaller or less populous states in favor of larger ones that could sway the overall vote. Proponents of the bill counter that it would not only increase voter turnout but also ensure that the election outcome reflects the collective choice of the American electorate as a whole.