Relating to the adoption of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.
If enacted, House Bill 68 would significantly impact the Texas Election Code by adding a new chapter that elaborates on how presidential electors would be appointed according to this interstate agreement. Under the proposed system, the chief election official in Texas would calculate the national popular vote total and certify the electors based on the candidate with the highest number of votes across all member states. This change aims to ensure that voters' choices for president are reflected more accurately at the national level.
House Bill 68 is an act that proposes Texas' adoption of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote, which seeks to reform the electoral process for presidential elections. The bill aims to establish a system where the winner of the presidency is determined by the total number of votes received across all participating states, rather than the Electoral College system currently in place. This agreement allows states that join to conduct a statewide popular election, and the candidate receiving the most votes in this election would be considered the national popular vote winner.
There are anticipated points of contention surrounding this bill. Advocates for the national popular vote argue that it serves to enhance democratic representation and ensure that every vote matters equally, irrespective of state boundaries. On the other hand, opponents express concerns regarding the potential dismantling of the Electoral College, which they argue protects smaller states' interests and balances the influence of more populous regions. Additionally, there are apprehensions about how conflicts between this agreement and state laws or the Texas Constitution would be resolved, as the compact would take precedence unless overridden by the state's constitution.