URGENT ACTION NEEDED:

Urge Gov. Schwarzenegger To Sign National Popular Vote Bill

Once again, the presidential race is in full swing - and in many ways, 2008 looks sadly similar to prior presidential elections: a handful of voters in at most a dozen battleground states are getting all of the campaigns' attention, while most of the country sits on the sidelines -- spectators to election of our nation's highest office.

But the dynamics are changing in one important way...

State by state, elected officials are signing onto the National Popular Vote (NPV) plan. NPV would guarantee the Presidency to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538).

Already, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey have enacted the National Popular Vote Bill. This represents 19% (50) of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate the law. Meanwhile, 21 State Legislative Chambers (one-fifth) have passed the bill.

But this summer, the California Assembly passed SB 37, the state's National Popular Vote bill -- and now the bill is sitting on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk. Gov. Schwarzenegger can singlehandedly transform debate about this critically important reform to make it about our nation's future, not its past

If you live in California, please contact the Governor and urge him to sign SB 37, the National Popular Vote bill. If you don't live in California, please forward this message to friends and family in the state. We have a short window of time to influence the Governor before he decides how he will act on the bill.

You can call, email, fax, or send a postal note. The most important thing is to do it immediately.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax: 916-445-4633 Phone: 916-445-2841 Email: visithttp://gov.ca.gov/interact

Ways to Help: As a rule of thumb, legible handwritten letters are better than typed or computer printed ones. Letters (as long as they're legible) are better than faxes. Faxes are better than emails. Emails are better than phone messages. Phone messages are better than illegible handwritten letters. And all of these options are vastly preferable to doing nothing and then regretting it later. The most important thing is to take action immediately.

Resources:

Talking points, sample letters and more information on the National Popular Vote plan are available at:[NationalPopularVote.com].
Additional information -- including our groundbreaking Presidential Election Inequality Report and an excellent short video produced by our FairVote North Carolina team -- is also available at[FairVote.org/npv].

Once you have sent your letter, used your fax machine, and made your call, then please get ten (10) other friends, relatives, neighbors, or colleagues to do the same. Please spread the word and help us get as many people as possible to contact the Governor to urge his signature on the bill.