National Popular Vote by State 2024

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to award all of their respective electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. The compact would only take effect if it were adopted by states collectively possessing a majority of the electoral votes, currently 270 out of 538. The purpose of the NPVIC is to ensure that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide becomes the President of the United States, regardless of the electoral college outcome.

As of the 2020 election year, the NPVIC has seen varying degrees of legislative action across different states. Some states have enacted the NPVIC into law, committing to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. These states include California, New York, Illinois, and others. On the other hand, several states have introduced the NPVIC in their legislative bodies or have had it pass one legislative chamber. However, the compact is still pending further legislative action or has been vetoed in certain cases.

Supporters of the NPVIC argue that it would ensure that every vote in every state counts equally in presidential elections, promoting fairness and democracy. They contend that the current winner-takes-all system in most states can lead to situations where a candidate wins the presidency despite losing the national popular vote, as occurred in the 2000 and 2016 elections.

Opponents, however, raise concerns about the potential implications of the NPVIC, suggesting that it could diminish the influence of smaller states and lead to unforeseen consequences. Some critics argue that the electoral college system serves to protect the interests of less populous states and prevents candidates from focusing solely on densely populated urban areas.