Should The Electoral College Be Eliminated? 15 States Are Trying To Make It Obsolete

(New York Times) Jose A. Del Real and Julie Turkewitz May 23 2019 The man who helped invent scratch-off lottery tickets now has his sights set on a bigger prize: overhauling the way the United States elects presidents. On Tuesday Nevada became the latest state to pass a bill that would grant its electoral votes to whoever wins the popular vote across the country not just in Nevada. The movement is the brainchild of John Koza a co-founder of National Popular Vote an organization that is working to eliminate the influence of the Electoral College. If Nevadas governor signs the bill the state will become the 15th plus the District of Columbia to join an interstate pact of states promising to switch to the new system. Those states including Nevada have a total of 195 electoral votes. The pact would take effect once enough states have joined to guarantee the national winner 270 electoral votes ensuring election. Enforcement however could be very difficult without congressional approval according to constitutional law experts. And the pact would be highly vulnerable to legal challenges they say. But while it may seem quixotic momentum is building. So far in 2019 Colorado New Mexico and Delaware have passed laws joining the pact. Maine and Oregon may take similar steps this year.