SPRINGFIELD, April 7, 2008 became the third state to enact the National Popular Vote bill.
Video of Press Conference
AP article
Lee Newspapers article
Belleville News-Democrat article
Chicago Tribune article
On January 9, 2008, the Illinois House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill (HB 1685 Status of HB 1685), thus sending the bill to Governor Rod R. Blagojevich for his signature. Op-Ed by Rob Buck AP story
On May 31, 2007, the Illinois Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill.
On May 2, the Illinois House of Representatives passed the original National Popular Vote bill (HB 858) (Status of HB 858)
In an article in Medill Report, Representative Robert S. Molaro was quoted as saying:
"This puts us back in play. With this bill, how much you win or lose by matters."
Illinois state Sen. Kirk W. Dillard (R-Hinsdale), a chief co-sponsor of the bill who is also chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party said:
"I think the bill is good for both political parties in Illinois since we've been neglected by national presidential candidates of both parties,"
"I believe this change doesn't help either party, it helps the American public's interest. Americans never quite get the Electoral College. It makes the public feel their vote doesn't count."
"I've studied a myth among some Republicans that this empowers cities. The statistics do not bear that out."
Dan Johnson-Weinberger, president of Progressive Public Affairs said:
"The current system is bad for two reasons -- the popular-vote winner doesn't always win, and it only matters how certain battleground states vote."
On April 18, the House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee approved the bill.
In February 2007, Illinois Senators Jacqueline Collins and Kirk W. Dillard (chief co-sponsor) introduced the 2007 version of the National Popular Vote bill in the Legislature (SB 78) (Status of SB 78). Representative Bob Molaro has introduced the bill (HB 858) into the House.
Illinois was the state where the National Popular Vote bill was first introduced (January 19, 2006). In the Illinois Senate, the bill (SB 2724) was sponsored in 2006 by Senators Jacqueline Collins (D), Kirk W. Dillard (Du Page County Republican Party Chair), and James T. Meeks (I). In the Illinois House, the bill (HB 5777) was sponsored by Representatives Robert S. Molaro (D) and Jim Durkin (R). By the end of 2006, the Illinois bills had a total of 48 sponsors. (There are 118 House members and 59 Senators in Illinois).
In 2006, Illinois State Senator Kirk W. Dillard said:
"This isn't a Democratic or Republican issue to me. It's important that people have faith that in the election of the most important office in the world that their vote will count. I'm proud to sponsor legislation that will hopefully result in presidential candidates showing up and working to meet voters in my state."
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Illinois Senator Donne E. Trotter
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Illinois Senator Susan Garrett
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Illinois Senator Kimberly A. Lightford
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Illinois Senator Michael Noland
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Illinois Rep. Julie Hamos
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Illinois Rep. Elga L. Jefferies
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Illinois Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios
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Illinois Rep. Frank J. Mautino
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Illinois Rep. Al Riley
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Illinois Rep. Richard T. Bradley
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Under the current system of electing the President, a candidate may win a majority of the Electoral College without having a majority of the nationwide popular vote. The National Popular Vote bill would reform the Electoral College by guaranteeing the Presidency to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The bill would enact the proposed interstate compact entitled the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." The compact would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the membership of the Electoral College (that is 270 of 538 electoral votes). Under the compact, all of the members of the Electoral College from all states belonging to the compact would be from the same political party as the winner of nationwide popular vote. Thus, the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia) will be guaranteed a majority of the Electoral College, and hence the Presidency. Because the compact guarantees a majority of the Electoral College to the winner of most popular votes nationwide, the compact has the additional benefit of eliminating the possibility that a presidential election might be thrown into the U.S. House of Representatives (with each state casting one vote).
