Maine Governor Janet Mills decided not to veto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPV), a law that calls for states to award their Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. The law will go into effect once states totaling 270 electoral votes join the compact, which is the number needed to win the presidency. The NPV recently reached its 209th electoral vote with Maine’s decision, signaling a potential end to the current Electoral College system by the 2024 election cycle.
The U.S. Electoral College has been criticized as an undemocratic institution, having failed twice in recent history by awarding the presidency to candidates who received fewer popular votes. The 2000 election of George W. Bush and the 2016 election of Donald Trump both raised concerns about the Electoral College’s legitimacy. Critics argue that it does not align with democratic principles and unfairly privileges voters in closely divided states while disenfranchising those in less competitive states. The NPV offers a potential solution to these issues by ensuring that the popular vote winner becomes president.
Despite being unpopular among Americans, the Electoral College remains in place due to Republicans’ current advantage in the system. The NPV, which was launched in 2006 and has gained momentum in recent years, offers a way to address the Electoral College’s shortcomings. If Democratic-leaning states continue to join the compact and Democrats win control of key battleground states, the NPV could have a significant impact on future elections. However, the Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, may pose a challenge to the legality of the compact.
Legal challenges to the NPV are anticipated, with the Supreme Court potentially ruling on its constitutionality. Democrats may need to consider expanding the Court if they want to ensure the success of the compact and address other issues related to the Court’s composition. While Democratic control of Congress may not happen in the near future, the possibility of achieving a Democratic majority in the future could lead to important decisions regarding the Electoral College and the Supreme Court. Democrats must seize this opportunity to reform the electoral system and ensure a fair and democratic process for future elections.
