Electoral College Reform and National Popular Vote Act

A bill to modernize the presidential election process, ensure equal weight for every vote, and lay the foundation for a direct popular vote system.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act shall be cited as the “Electoral College Reform and National Popular Vote Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE & FINDINGS

2.1 Purpose

• To move the United States toward electing the President and Vice President by national popular vote, where each vote counts equally, regardless of state.

• To prevent the distortion of political representation, turnout suppression, and swing-state dominance caused by the current “winner-take-all” Electoral College system.

2.2 Congressional Findings

• Five times in U.S. history, the presidency was won by a candidate who lost the national popular vote.

• The current system disenfranchises millions in “safe” states and concentrates power in a few battleground states.

• The Constitution gives states the power to decide how they allocate electors (Art. II, Sec. 1), opening the door for reform through state cooperation and federal standardization.

SECTION 3. NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE COMPACT RECOGNITION

3.1 Congressional Consent

• Congress grants formal consent to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution.

3.2 Compact Requirements

• Participating states agree to allocate all electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, once the Compact includes states representing at least 270 electoral votes.

3.3 Enforcement Mechanism

• Each state must pass legislation joining the Compact and agreeing to:

  • Certify their electors to the national vote winner

  • Release official vote totals within 7 days of election

  • Use consistent national standards for counting and reporting

SECTION 4. UNIFORM NATIONAL VOTE COUNTING STANDARDS

4.1 Federal Guidelines

• The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) shall issue binding rules for:

  • Vote tabulation accuracy and consistency

  • Timeframe for certification and recounts

  • Handling of disputed ballots and provisional votes

  • Transparent release of results by jurisdiction

4.2 Penalties for Obstruction

• States failing to report accurate, timely national popular vote totals may face:

  • Loss of federal election funding

  • Civil penalties up to $5,000,000

  • Judicial oversight under expedited review

SECTION 5. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM ACT

5.1 Prohibition on Faithless Electors

• All electors must pledge to support the certified popular vote winner.

• States must enact binding legal enforcement (removal and replacement mechanism) for “faithless” electors.

5.2 Elector Selection Standards

• States must use transparent, nonpartisan criteria for choosing electors.

• Party loyalty may not override public accountability.

SECTION 6. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FRAMEWORK (OPTIONAL ADD-ON)

6.1 Statement of Intent

• It is the sense of Congress that the Electoral College should be replaced by direct popular election of the President and Vice President through constitutional amendment.

6.2 Model Amendment Language

“The President and Vice President shall be elected by the people of the United States. Each citizen shall have one vote, and the pair of candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.”

• Congress shall propose this amendment under Article V and submit it to the states for ratification.

SECTION 7. PUBLIC EDUCATION & OUTREACH

7.1 Civic Literacy Campaign

• The Department of Education and EAC shall develop a “Know Your Vote” national program, covering:

  • Electoral College history

  • National Popular Vote Compact explanation

  • Voting rights and electoral reforms

7.2 Youth Engagement

• Materials must be included in:

  • High school civics curricula

  • Voter registration drives at age 18

  • Digital platforms and social media

SECTION 8. IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE

• This Act shall take effect immediately upon passage and:

  • States may join the Compact at any time

  • Binding allocation begins once Compact threshold is met

  • All vote-counting and faithless elector provisions apply to the next presidential election

SECTION 9. SEVERABILITY

If any provision is found invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections remain in effect.