Kamala Harris’s running mate urges popular vote system but campaign says issue is not part of Democrats’ agenda

Kamala Harris’s running mate urges popular vote system but campaign says issue is not part of Democrats’ agenda

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, has called for the electoral college system of electing US presidents to be abolished and replaced with a popular vote principle, as operates in most democracies.

His comments – to an audience of party fundraisers – chime with the sentiments of a majority of American voters but risk destabilising the campaign of Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, who has not adopted a position on the matter, despite having previously voiced similar views.

“I think all of us know, the electoral college needs to go,” Walz told donors at a gathering at the home of the California governor, Gavin Newsom. “We need a national popular vote. We need to be able to go into York, Pennsylvania, and win. We need to be in western Wisconsin and win. We need to be in Reno, Nevada, and win.”

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  • @RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16•1 month ago

    It’s not like Walz or Harris can do anything about it anyway. Legal scholars have said that it would take a Constitutional amendment to change the electoral college system to anything else, as it is mandated by the Constitution.

    Amending the Constitution requires ratification by 75% of the 50 US states after passing a 2/3 majority of Congress.

    It’s best to be realistic and not get worked up about things you can’t do anything about.

        • TheRealKuniEnglish
          15•1 month ago

          There’s a way to circumvent the electoral college without a constitutional amendment. It’s called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. It’s in progress, but not triggered yet until a few more states adopt it.

          If states totaling at least 270 electoral votes sign on, then it kicks in. Every state in the compact will send the electors for the party that wins the national popular vote, regardless of how their state votes. Electoral college rendered meaningless without a constitutional amendment.

          (The video is good, it’s CGP Grey’s explanation of this compact.)

      • @Charlatan@lemm.eeEnglish
        3•1 month ago

        That video is worth watching just for the LOLs, but also does a great job of explaining exactly how the whole thing works.

    • @exemplariasuntomni
      0•1 month ago

      We are slaves to the ruling class forever then.

      We really have nothing to lose in that case, and may as well do anything and everything to end the electoral college.

      • @RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
        -2•1 month ago

        I’m not a slave, I do whatever I want and life is great. Perhaps you should try just doing whatever the fuck you want to sometimes.