MADISON, February 17, 2008 — A hearing was held on the National Popular Vote bill in Wisconsin (AB 751) in the House Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform.

A survey of 800 Wisconsin state voters conducted on December 12-14, 2008 showed 71% overall support in Wisconsin for a national popular vote for President. Support was 81% among Democrats, 67% among independents, and 63% among Republicans. By age, support was 68% among 18-29 year olds, 62% among 30-45 year olds, 72% among 46-65 year olds, and 76% for those older than 65. By gender, support was 80% among women and 61% among men. By race, support was 72% among whites (representing 89% of respondents), 64% among African-Americans (representing 5% of respondents), and 58% among Others (representing 5% of respondents). The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%. December 2008 Wisconsin poll

On May 10, 2007, Wisconsin State Representatives Terese Berceau, Spencer Black, David Travis, Tamara Grigsby, Annette Polly Williams, Frank Boyle, Christine Sinicki, and Barbara Toles and Senator Robert Wirch have introduced the National Popular Vote bill (AB 313   Status of AB 313) into Wisconsin Legislature for the 2007 session.

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).