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HomeNational Popular Vote


What is the National Popular Vote Compact?


The National Popular Vote Compact is agreement between states to award their electoral college votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The agreement would take effect once there are enough states in the compact to reach a majority in the electoral college.


The National Popular Vote Compact would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It has already been enacted into law by 16 states and DC with 205 electoral votes.


The compact has now reached a critical tipping point, and has set a goal of 270 by 2024. It needs an additional 65 electoral votes to go into effect. Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes would be a big jump toward that goal.


In 2020, the board of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania agreed to endorse the National Popular Vote campaign here in Pennsylvania and to join in advocacy for bills to be introduced in the 2021 session. 


Learn more about the National Popular Vote in this video of their virtual conference, held November 19, 2020.

Why Does the League of Women Voters Support the National Popular Vote Compact?
  • The winner of the popular vote should become President.
  • The 2000 and 2016 elections were won in the Electoral College by the candidate who lost the popular vote.
  • Every citizen's vote should carry equal weight in presidential elections.
  • The Electoral College gives unequal weight to voters in different states, with significantly different Electoral College votes per popular vote. For instance, a citizen's vote in Wyoming has double the Electoral College impact of a vote in Idaho, and triple the impact of a vote in Oregon. A vote in Vermont carries triple the Electoral weight of a vote in Massachusetts.
  • Candidates for president should try to win the votes of every citizen, not just those in "swing states."
  • Candidates can safely ignore the concerns of voters in non-battleground states, turning these states into "fly-over country."
  • Voters in non-battleground states know their votes won't affect the outcome, and turnout is reduced.


"The Voter" - Newsletter of LWVPGH