SB 22

  • Delaware Senate Bill
  • 150th General Assembly (2019-2020)
  • Introduced in Senate Mar 08, 2019
  • Passed Senate Mar 07, 2019
  • Passed House Mar 14, 2019
  • Signed by Governor Mar 28, 2019

An Act To Amend Title 15 Of The Delaware Code Relating The Agreement Among The States To Elect The President By National Popular Vote.

Abstract

Act enacts the National Popular Vote compact, which changes the Electoral College from an institution that reflects the voters’ state-by-state choices into a body that reflects the voters’ nationwide choice. Currently, state statutes require that electoral votes are controlled by the plurality of the voters in the state but this system is not required by the U.S. Constitution or federal law. The National Popular Vote compact requires that each member state award its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who received the largest number of popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The National Popular Vote compact becomes effective when it is enacted by states collectively possessing a majority of the electoral votes. When the National Popular Vote compact takes effect, the presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia would be guaranteed enough electoral votes in the Electoral College to be elected to the Presidency. Specifically, this Act does the following: Section 1. Adopts The Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote ("National Popular Vote compact") and provides for notice regarding when the National Popular Vote compact is in effect and governs a presidential election. Section 2. Revises the wording of § 4303(b) so that it correctly addresses how electors must vote in any presidential election. This is not a substantive change to current law, which governs when the National Popular Vote compact is not applicable to an election, because the electors nominated by the political party that received the plurality of vote of the voters of this State are the electors who are appointed. Section 3. Corrects a typographical error in § 5711. Section 4. Revises § 5711 to govern when the National Popular Vote compact governs a presidential election. Both versions of § 5711 will appear in the Delaware Code with a note at the top of each version stating if that version governs the next presidential election. Section 5. Revises § 7704 of Title 15 regarding the election of delegates to a state constitutional convention to ratify proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution so that it remains unchanged by the National Popular Vote compact. The statute currently provides that delegates are elected "in the same manner as in the case of the election for electors for President and Vice President." Because the National Popular Vote compact changes how electors are selected, § 7704 is revised so that delegates to a national constitutional convention are nominated and elected in the current manner, regardless of whether the National Popular Vote compact governs the next presidential election. Section 6. Clarifies the effective date of this Act and when Section 1 of this Act governs a presidential election.

Bill Sponsors (35)

Trey Paradee

     
Cosponsor

Laura V. Sturgeon

     
Cosponsor

John "Jack" Walsh

     
Cosponsor

Votes


Mar 14, 2019

Mar 07, 2019

Actions


Mar 28, 2019

Office of the Governor

Signed by Governor

Mar 14, 2019

House

Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 17 NO

Mar 13, 2019

House

Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 3 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Administration

Mar 08, 2019

House

Assigned to Administration Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Administration

Mar 07, 2019

Senate

Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO

Mar 06, 2019

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Elections, Govt. & Community Affairs) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Elections, Govt. & Community Affairs

Feb 27, 2019

Senate

Introduced and Assigned to Elections, Govt. & Community Affairs Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Elections, Govt. & Community Affairs

Bill Text

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Related Documents

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Sources

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