Legislation that would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia cleared the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday.
HB 177, the National Popular Vote Bill, would commit Virginia to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would go into effect when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes necessary to elect a president – 270 out of 538.
Since the National Popular Vote movement began in 2006, fifteen states and the District of Columbia – altogether totaling 196 electoral votes – have passed the National Popular Vote bill. Virginia’s 13 electoral votes would bring that total to 209 – just 64 electoral votes short of the total necessary for the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to take effect.
“We are grateful to our sponsors in the Virginia General Assembly, and to citizens across the state who are making it clear that they prefer a national popular vote for president,” said John Koza, chairman of National Popular Vote. “Regardless of party, the people of Virginia prefer a system where every voter, in every state, is politically relevant in every presidential election. National Popular Vote delivers on that promise.”
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