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Nevada’s Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak vetoed legislation Thursday to commit Nevada’s six electoral votes to a group of states agreeing to elect the president by popular vote.
Assembly Bill 186 would have joined Nevada to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, (NPVIC), which is an agreement between states to pool their electoral votes and voting results together into one aggregate pot.
“Once effective, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could diminish the role of smaller states like Nevada in national electoral contests and force Nevada’s electors to side with whoever wins the nationwide popular vote, rather than the candidate Nevadans choose,” Sisolak said in a statement obtained by the Nevada Independent.
#BREAKING: Nevada Democratic governor vetoes bill to decide presidential elections by popular vote, not Electoral College https://t.co/jMQCOC68rY pic.twitter.com/8uAmipN9V2
— The Hill (@thehill) May 30, 2019
Fifteen jurisdictions (14 states plus Washington, D.C.) have formally joined the compact, representing 189 electoral votes. The compact becomes official when that number hits 270, or enough votes to elect the president, according to its terms. (RELATED: Natelson: Why A National Popular Vote Is Unconstitutional)
“As Nevada’s governor, I am obligated to make such decisions according to my own conscience. In cases like this, where Nevada’s interests could diverge from the interests of large states, I will always stand up for Nevada,” Sisolak added.
The bill was approved 23-17 in the state Assembly and 12-8 in the state Senate.
The NPVIC does not abolish the Electoral College, which requires amending the Constitution. Rather, by binding electors to vote for candidates achieving a plurality outside their own state, it achieves the results of a popular vote.
Current compact states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. (RELATED: Popular Vote Compact Adds New Mexico, Now Has 189 Electoral Votes)
Similar legislation has been introduced in at least nine other states.
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In effect bills like AB 186 would eliminate the electoral college and make small States irrelevant in federal elections.
This Governor looked past political party and considered both his State and all other States best interest.