What is the National Popular Vote Compact?

The National Popular Vote Compact is an interstate agreement designed to ensure that the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes nationally will also win the election. Under this agreement, Illinois would join other states in pledging to award their state’s Electoral College votes to the candidate who receives the most votes from all fifty states and the District of Columbia. States participating in the Compact agree to award all of their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate receives the most votes nationwide, regardless of the outcome of the election in their state. In other words, a candidate who may not be the winner in a given state can still be awarded that state’s Electoral College votes, as long as they received the most votes nationwide. The goal of the National Popular Vote Compact is to ensure that the candidate who wins the most votes is the one who ultimately wins the election, regardless of which state they win or lose. Currently, 11 states plus the District of Columbia have signed onto the Compact, representing a total of 165 electoral votes. In order for the Compact to take effect, it must be enacted in states with at least 270 electoral votes, so it is important for more states to sign onto the Compact to ensure its success.

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What is the National Popular Vote Compact?

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