New York State joined a nationwide effort that would gives the state’s 29 electoral votes for president to the candidate who wins the national popular vote.
Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
New York State joined a nationwide effort that would effectively override the Electoral College by giving the state’s electoral votes for president to the candidate who wins the national popular vote.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed off on a law that would throw in New York’s 29 votes towards a larger pool of electoral votes.
So far, nine states and the District of Columbia have done the same, gathering 165 of the 270 needed to guarantee a majority.
Called the National Popular Vote agreement, the idea is to make the Electoral College’s 538 votes be consistent with the votes cast inside the booths around the country.
Traditionally, all of the state’s electoral votes are granted to whomever wins over a state’s delegation, which critics says gives certain states inordinate influence.
“By aligning the Electoral College with the voice of the nation’s voters, we are ensuring the equality of votes and encouraging candidates to appeal to voters in all states, instead of disproportionately focusing on early contests and swing states,” Cuomo said in a statement.
The accord needs another 105 electoral votes to come into effect, and it can do so without any Congressional approval.
Follow Chester Jesus Soria on Twitter@chestersoria
