Oregon Public Broadcasting

Everyone learns in school that it’s really the Electoral College that determines the winner of a Presidential election, not the popular vote.  

There’s an effort underway to change that, and supporters made their case Tuesday to an Oregon legislative panel. Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

The National Popular Vote plan doesn’t do away with the Electoral College.  Instead, it would create a compact among states to allocate all of their Electoral College votes to whichever candidate gets the most votes nationwide.

The agreement would take effect once enough states approve it.  Supporters say it would put all voters on equal footing, since candidates would have no reason to focus on just the biggest states.

John Koza of the group backing the proposal says that’s what’s happening this year.

John Koza:  “We’re sitting here today, less than a month after the two nominating conventions, and three-quarters of the states simply don’t matter in the Presidential election.”

Four states have approved the National Popular Vote bill already.  Earlier efforts in Oregon and Washington to pass the plan fizzled, but Oregon lawmakers at least say they’ll give it another shot next year.