keymanjim
01-04-2008, 11:38 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS01/801040379/1006/NEWS01
N.J. lawmakers OK Electoral College move
Friday, January 4, 2008
By MICHAEL RISPOLI
Gannett State Bureau
TRENTON
On the same day the presidential race kicked off with the Iowa caucuses, the state Senate gave final legislative approval to adding New Jersey to an interstate compact to skirt the Electoral College by requiring the state's electors to cast their vote for president and vice president based on the national popular vote winner.
The compact might never take effect, and electors chosen this year will still back the winner in New Jersey.
The legislation, passed 21-12, in effect circumvents the Constitution without an amendment by changing the way presidents are elected. The bill, passed by the Assembly in December, now heads to Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who is expected to sign it.
Supporters of the bill say the current system disenfranchises voters because presidential candidates ignore smaller states or states where one political party has a clear advantage.
Chris Pearson, who sits on the board of directors for National Popular Vote, a group pushing for the legislation, said New Jersey voters are treated "like an ATM machine" because candidates come to the state to raise funds but rarely address the needs of the state's voters.
"We sit on the sidelines and we watch a few states receive all the attention," said Pearson, who also is a member of the Vermont state Legislature. "Every American should have an equal say in the process."
New Jersey would join Maryland as the only states signed onto the compact. The agreement would take effect only if enough states come aboard to produce 270 of the 538 votes currently needed decide a presidential win -- making it highly unlikely the agreement would affect this year's presidential election.
Although Electoral College reforms may be needed, the interstate compact is "a disservice to representative government," said Sen. Joseph Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth.
"It is inexplicable to me that we would punt away our ability to have the people of New Jersey represented how they vote on the general election day," Kyrillos said.
Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, said if the states want to change the Electoral College, it "should be done in the appropriate manner" by amending the Constitution.
Only four times since the Electoral College was established in 1789 has the winner of the popular vote not won the presidency. The most recent was 2000, when George W. Bush won the election despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore.
Action on the bill was delayed in December when four Democratic senators -- all members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus and from North Jersey -- held their votes because caucus chairman Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, wanted to further examine the potential impact the agreement would have on black voters.
"We don't see it being extremely harmful for us," said Rice, who was absent for the vote. The other senators who did not vote in December voted in favor.
Reach Michael Rispoli at mrispol@gannett.com
N.J. lawmakers OK Electoral College move
Friday, January 4, 2008
By MICHAEL RISPOLI
Gannett State Bureau
TRENTON
On the same day the presidential race kicked off with the Iowa caucuses, the state Senate gave final legislative approval to adding New Jersey to an interstate compact to skirt the Electoral College by requiring the state's electors to cast their vote for president and vice president based on the national popular vote winner.
The compact might never take effect, and electors chosen this year will still back the winner in New Jersey.
The legislation, passed 21-12, in effect circumvents the Constitution without an amendment by changing the way presidents are elected. The bill, passed by the Assembly in December, now heads to Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who is expected to sign it.
Supporters of the bill say the current system disenfranchises voters because presidential candidates ignore smaller states or states where one political party has a clear advantage.
Chris Pearson, who sits on the board of directors for National Popular Vote, a group pushing for the legislation, said New Jersey voters are treated "like an ATM machine" because candidates come to the state to raise funds but rarely address the needs of the state's voters.
"We sit on the sidelines and we watch a few states receive all the attention," said Pearson, who also is a member of the Vermont state Legislature. "Every American should have an equal say in the process."
New Jersey would join Maryland as the only states signed onto the compact. The agreement would take effect only if enough states come aboard to produce 270 of the 538 votes currently needed decide a presidential win -- making it highly unlikely the agreement would affect this year's presidential election.
Although Electoral College reforms may be needed, the interstate compact is "a disservice to representative government," said Sen. Joseph Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth.
"It is inexplicable to me that we would punt away our ability to have the people of New Jersey represented how they vote on the general election day," Kyrillos said.
Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, said if the states want to change the Electoral College, it "should be done in the appropriate manner" by amending the Constitution.
Only four times since the Electoral College was established in 1789 has the winner of the popular vote not won the presidency. The most recent was 2000, when George W. Bush won the election despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore.
Action on the bill was delayed in December when four Democratic senators -- all members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus and from North Jersey -- held their votes because caucus chairman Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, wanted to further examine the potential impact the agreement would have on black voters.
"We don't see it being extremely harmful for us," said Rice, who was absent for the vote. The other senators who did not vote in December voted in favor.
Reach Michael Rispoli at mrispol@gannett.com