FairVote and the American Political Science Association’s Section on Representation and Electoral Systems will cosponsor a half-day course on the National Popular Vote Plan at APSA’s conference in Philadelphia.  The course will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA,and will include three panels covering the case against electoral college, the mechanics and current status of the National Popular Vote Plan, and the potential impact of the reform.  Panelists will include FairVote’s Executive Director, Rob Richie and Director of the Presidential Elections Reform Program, Bill Shein, as well leading scholars on voting and representation in the United States.

The National Popular Vote Plan seeks to bring about a popular vote for president through changes to state laws.  States enter into an interstate compact, under which they agree to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.  The compact goes into effect when states with a majority of electoral votes have joined.  This innovative approach takes advantage of the authority the Constitution gives the states in allocating their electoral votes.

The National Popular Vote Plan was introduced in February 2006.  NPV legislation has since been passed in two state houses:  the Colorado Senate, and the California Assembly.  The legislation was reported favorably from committee in Louisiana and has been introduced in New York, Illinois, and Missouri.  The National Popular Vote Campaign plans to have sponsors in all 50 states for the 2007 legislative session.

More information on the half day course can be found at http://archive.fairvote.org/?page=1821.

Registration for the event is free but space is limited to the first 80 to register.


To register, contact:  
 
Bill Shein, Director
Presidential Elections Reform Program
FairVote, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: 301.270.4616
Fax: 301.270.4133
E-mail: bill@fairvote.org