Boston, January 13, 2009 — Representatives Charles A. Murphy and Garrett J. Bradley introduced the National Popular Vote bill (H660) in the Massachusetts House for 2009. The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Carlo P. Basile, James Dwyer, Lori Ehrlich, Jay R. Kaufman, John D. Keenan, William Lantigua, Charles A. Murphy, Byron Rushing, Tom Sannicandro, Cleon H. Turner, Alice K. Wolf, Geraldo Alicea, Cory Atkins, Theodore C. Speliotis, Frank I. Smizik, William Smitty Pignatelli, Martha M. Walz, Steven J. D'Amico, John P. Fresolo, Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera, Stephen Kulik, Antonio F.D. Cabral, Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., Sarah K. Peake, David B. Sullivan, James J. O'Day, Louis L. Kafka, Mark V. Falzone, Christopher J. Donelan, Peter v. Kocot, Anne M. Gobi, Brian P. Wallace, Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Joyce A. Spiliotis, Denise Provost, Kay Khan, Alice Hanlon Peisch, John W. Scibak, Mary E. Grant, Kevin J. Murphy, Michael J. Moran, Thomas M. Stanley, Robert L. Rice, Jr., Paul McMurtry, Jonathan Hecht, Pam Richardson, James B. Eldridge, Christopher J. Donelan, James E. Vallee, Barry R. Finegold, Thomas P. Conroy, Martin J. Walsh, Denis E. Guyer, Karen E. Spilka, Robert A. O'Leary, Anthony W. Petruccelli, Alice Hanlon Peisch, James R. Miceli, Cynthia Stone Creem, Kevin Aguiar, Sean Garballey, Demetrius J. Atsalis, Bill Bowles, and James Cantwell.      Milford Daily News article

On January 12, 2009, Senator Joan M. Menard introduced the National Popular Vote bill (S353) in the Massachusetts Senate for 2009. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Susan C. Tucker, Harriette L. Chandler, Patricia D. Jehlen, Thomas P. Kennedy, Kenneth J. Donnelly, James B. Eldridge, Karen E. Spilka, Anthony W. Petruccelli, Robert A. O'Leary, Cynthia Stone Creem, and Thomas M. McGee.

On July 30, 2008, the Massachusetts Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill on third reading (and engrossment). Immediately beforehand, a crippling amendment was defeated by a vote of 27 to 9. Under Massachusetts legislative procedures, an additional vote is required in both the House and Senate to transmit the bill to the Governor. Although this vote was on the agenda on the session's last day (July 31), no action was taken.      Associated Press story      Boston Globe 1st editorial      Cape Cod Times editorial      Enterprise News editorial      Boston Herald column      Boston Globe 2nd editorial      Boston Herald article      See polling results      Boston Herald article on Michael Dukakis Letter to Massachusetts Legislators      Boston Globe April 19, 2009 editorial      Boston Globe June 22, 2008 editorial

On July 9, 2008, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill.      2008 Dukakis letter to Legislature      Alexander Keyssar letter to Legislature

A survey of 800 Massachusetts voters conducted on June 3, 2008 showed 73% overall support for a national popular vote for President.      Massachusetts June 2008 poll

On October 5, 2007, the Joint Committee on Election Laws voted favorably on the National Popular Vote bill in Massachusetts.

The National Popular Vote bill was filed on January 26, 2007 in the Massachusetts State Senate (S445, Status of S445) (S452) by Senator Joan Menard and Senator Robert Havern and in the House of Representatives (H678) (H710) by Representatives Martin J. Walsh and Charles A. Murphy.   Patriot Ledger editorial   Milford Daily News editorial

Joining them in cosponsoring the bill are a bi-partisan group of 24 additional lawmakers, including Senators Jarrett T. Barrios, Patricia D. Jehlen, Michael W. Morrissey, and Robert O-Leary and Representatives Cory Atkins, Antonio F. D. Cabral, Steven D'Amico, James B. Eldridge, Lewis G. Evangelidis, Michael E. Festa, Mary E. Grant, Jay R. Kaufman, Stephen Kulik, Barbara A. L'Italien, J. James Marzilli, Jr., Matthew C. Patrick, Douglas W. Petersen, Denise Provost, Kathi-Anne Reinstein, John W. Scibak, Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., Frank Israel Smizik, Todd M. Smola, and Brian P. Wallace.

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).