State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo wants New York to join the short list of states to pass the National Popular Vote bill that would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states.
"Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy," Griffo, R-47, Rome, said Wednesday. "There is nothing more important in the American system of government than elections that attract voters, that challenge those of us who run for office to deal with all the people and all the issues, and that energize our system by attracting voters to participate in the process."
The bill would change the way a state's electoral votes are awarded during presidential elections, giving them to the winner of the national popular vote rather than the candidate who captured the state.
"The current system does not serve the people," Griffo said.
In 2000, President George W. Bush won the White House based on electoral votes, despite losing the popular vote to former Vice President Al Gore.
"The current system of electing a president effectively disenfranchises millions of Americans because they live in states where one candidate or the other has a safe majority," said Griffo. "At a time when America needs its citizens to be involved in government and elections, we need to ensure that every vote counts and that the popular vote is the true measure of victory."
Griffo, chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, introduced the National Popular Vote bill in the Senate in April. It was never acted on.
At least four states have passed the National Popular Vote bill. Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill in 2006.
The legislation, in the form of an interstate compact, would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes β at least 270 of 538.
