The state Senate on Thursday approved legislation to have Rhode Island join other states in seeking to reform how the nation elects the president and vice president.
The National Popular Vote initiative is an agreement among states to assign each participating state's Electoral College votes to whichever candidates won the popular vote nationwide. Most states currently designate all of their Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the majority of votes in that state.
Eight states have passed laws to join the compact, including Massachusetts and Vermont. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Erin P. Lynch, D-Warwick, now goes to the state House of Representatives for passage.
In 2008, similar bills passed the full General Assembly but were vetoed by then-Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, a Republican.
