Amendment introduced, 29 extra electoral votes to popular vote winner.

[Direckshun]

Obviously, never going to pass.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefi...lectoral-votes

Dem's amendment would give 29 more electoral votes to popular vote winner
By Jonathan Easley
10/26/12 08:39 AM ET

The head of the House Democratic campaign arm this week proposed a Constitutional amendment that would give the winner of the popular vote in the presidential race an additional 29 electoral votes.

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) did not offer an explanation in the joint resolution filed in the House why he was proposing to change the way elections in the U.S. are decided.

Under the Constitution, the candidate who wins at least 270 electoral votes wins the presidency regardless of the popular vote.

The prospect of a split between the popular vote and the Electoral College usually provokes cries of abolishing the Electoral College completely, but rather than simplifying the process, Israel’s resolution would add an additional level of intrigue to the electoral puzzle.

Swing states would still retain their importance in the Electoral College, but the additional 29 delegates awarded to the popular vote winner would fundamentally alter the focus of the campaigns. Candidates would have to target voters in states they have no chance of winning, as well as in states they have no chance of losing.

One of the primary criticisms of the Electoral College is that it puts outsized importance on the horserace aspect of the election in the battleground states, as voters in the majority of the country tune out. If Israel’s amendment were to become law, voters in deeply blue and red states would still have participate in the election to secure for their candidate the popular vote prize.

Most analysts believe the 2012 election will be decides by fewer than 29 Electoral College votes.

The timing of the resolution from Israel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is curious since there is increasing speculation that for the fifth time in history, the 2012 presidential election could result in a split between the popular vote and Electoral College decision. And in this case, most of the speculation has been that President Obama might win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.

According to the Real Clear Politics average of polls, Mitt Romney has 47.9 percent support nationally over President Obama at 47. But the Obama campaign has consistently touted its “wider path to victory” through the Electoral College, and the president appears to have a small lead in the handful of battleground states whose Electoral College votes will determine the outcome of the election.

Several U.S. races have ended with the lower of the popular vote winning the Electoral College.

A split most recently happened in 2000 when Republican George W. Bush won the most electoral votes but lost the popular vote to Vice President Al Gore.

If approved, Israel’s measure would apply with respect to any presidential election held after a one-year period that would begin on the date of its ratification.

The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become law.

Here’s the text of the measure:

“In an election for President and Vice President, after the popular vote has been counted and electors have been appointed in each of the several States and the District constituting the seat of Government of the United States, each State and the District shall report the total number of popular votes cast for each of the candidates,” Israel’s joint resolution reads. “The candidate receiving the largest percentage of the total popular vote as reported by the several States and the District shall receive 29 electoral votes in addition to those cast by the Electors chosen by the several States and the District. These votes shall not be considered votes cast by Electors and shall not affect the total number of votes necessary to constitute a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed.”

[Brock]

Isn't this how the pro bowl got ruined?

[FishingRod]

I think this is about as fair and likley to pass as if the Republicans just said each state gets one vote. I'm sure the Right would be happy with that idea.

[FD]

Originally Posted by tmax63

Ever the conservative I would consider 1 electoral vote for the popular vote to prevent the 269-269 tie that is possible today but not 29.

I like this idea. Basically, electoral vote trumps popular vote except in the instance of an exact tie. The current tie breaking procedure is a bit bizarre.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by Tom.Jay61

Looks like the communists (democrats) are already starting their sore loser act.

If anything, I see us non-bible thumping hypocrites (democrats) as losing the popular vote and winning the electoral not the other way around.

[Garcia Bronco]

This is dumb...and 2 weeks before the election? That also inappropriate. The Electoral College is the best way to go to ensure population centers don't decide all policy for the rural areas.

Get over it.....Al Gore lost

[RINGLEADER]

This is ignorant.

Why do people treat the process like it's a fanboy scene from Transformers 4?

How 'bout we give an extra electoral vote for whoever gets the most women? And raises the most money? And has the best economic plan as judged by Paul Krugman?!?

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by FD

I like this idea. Basically, electoral vote trumps popular vote except in the instance of an exact tie. The current tie breaking procedure is a bit bizarre.

The process of awarding electoral votes is up to the states. You can't just manufacture a new electoral vote.

And the Constitution already provides for what happens in the event of a tie.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

This is ignorant.

Why do people treat the process like it's a fanboy scene from Transformers 4?

How 'bout we give an extra electoral vote for whoever gets the most women? And raises the most money? And has the best economic plan as judged by Paul Krugman?!?

How about the candidate that wears the most pink?

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

I would rather see each state control 1 electoral vote and 1 for popular. Accomplishes the same thing.

wut?

[WoodDraw]

Either you do away with it, or you keep it as is. It does annoy me that the majority of the country in no way matters for presidential elections. But I don't see that changing for awhile...

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

wut?

There would be a total of 51 electoral votes. One from each state and 1 for whoever receives the most total votes. Impossible to have a tie, and ensures each state is equally represented in the presidential election.

[FD]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

The process of awarding electoral votes is up to the states. You can't just manufacture a new electoral vote.

And the Constitution already provides for what happens in the event of a tie.

I support the electoral college system, but in the very unlikely case of a tie, I just think popular vote winner is a better tiebreaker than the current system which is pretty bizarre.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

There would be a total of 51 electoral votes. One from each state and 1 for whoever receives the most total votes. Impossible to have a tie, and ensures each state is equally represented in the presidential election.

Haha - and thereby insuring decades of Republican rule.

I have a feeling your proposal won't make it very far

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by FD

I support the electoral college system, but in the very unlikely case of a tie, I just think popular vote winner is a better tiebreaker than the current system which is pretty bizarre.

It's a bit surprising to me that it hasn't been fixed in an amendment at any point. I suppose it comes from neither house wanting to give up any power. But it's very much a remnant of a system that no longer exists here. How bizarre and useless would it be to see a Romney/Biden presidency?

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

There would be a total of 51 electoral votes. One from each state and 1 for whoever receives the most total votes. Impossible to have a tie, and ensures each state is equally represented in the presidential election.

Sorry man, but that's what the senate is for. Population of Wyoming ~ 570,000. Population of Los Angeles County ~ 9,900,000.