Connecticut House Bill HB05085

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/23
• Refer: 1/9/23

Caption

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

Impact

If passed, HB 05085 would eliminate Connecticut’s participation in a multistate compact designed to reform the selection of the President of the United States. By withdrawing from this agreement, Connecticut would revert to the conventional process of electors representing the state in accordance with its own voting outcomes, which some argue upholds state sovereignty over electoral matters. Supporters of the bill may suggest that this change enhances the democratic process by allowing states to maintain greater control over how their electoral votes are used, particularly in contentious election years.

Summary

House Bill 05085 seeks to withdraw Connecticut from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which is an agreement among participating states to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. The bill aims to repeal section 9-175a of the Connecticut General Statutes, thereby reinstating the traditional system where Connecticut's electoral votes are allocated based on the state's own election outcomes rather than those of other states. This move is positioned as a means to ensure that Connecticut's electoral process remains aligned with the state's interests and values.

Contention

The proposal has sparked notable debate among lawmakers and constituents, with proponents arguing that the National Popular Vote Compact undermines the federal structure of elections and diminishes the influence of smaller states in national elections. Critics contend that withdrawing from the compact could disenfranchise voters, particularly in a situation where the popular vote diverges from the electoral college results. As such, the bill raises questions about the balance of state and federal powers in the electoral process and the implications for voter representation at the national level.