“National Popular Vote is the only non-partisan reform that makes every voter, in every state, matter equally in every presidential election.”

– With vast majorities of the American people of all political persuasions supporting change to the current method for electing the president, and with various proposals in the news to reform the Electoral College, National Popular Vote released the following statement:

“State legislatures have the power, under the Constitution, to decide the fate of the current system for electing the president, and what system will replace it for the 2016 presidential election. An overwhelming majority of the American people hope that 2012 will be the last election where four out of five American voters are ignored by presidential campaigns because they don’t live in battleground states and therefore are not worthy of a vigorous campaign for their votes,” said Patrick Rosenstiel, spokesperson for National Popular Vote.

“While the Congressional District plan is being floated in Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, there is only one non-partisan reform to make every voter matter equally, in every state, during every presidential election. That reform is National Popular Vote, and it should be embraced by legislators and citizens who believe the candidate with the most popular votes in all 50 states should win the presidential election.”

The National Popular Vote bill has been introduced in all 50 states, earned the support of more than 2,100 legislators, passed 31 legislative chambers in 21 jurisdictions (states), and has been enacted in nine jurisdictions possessing 132 electoral votes—49 percent of the 270 electoral votes required for the agreement to take effect.

Under the National Popular Vote plan, participating states agree to award their electors, in block, to the candidate who wins the National Popular Vote.

“The Congressional District plan will leave far too many American voters and states out of the process,” said Mr. Rosenstiel. “A vast majority of America’s Congressional Districts are very, very red (Republican) or very, very blue (Democrat).”

“National Popular Vote appeals to voters and legislators of all political stripes and is the only reform that preserves state power to award electors, guarantees the presidency to the candidate who wins the most votes in all 50 states, and makes every voter in every state matter equally to presidential candidates and their campaigns.”

Polls showing a high level of support for a nationwide vote for president in various states and among voters of all parties can be viewed at: http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/pages/polls.php

Mr. Rosenstiel is a life-long Republican who has advised conservative candidates seeking the presidency and conservative causes. He is a senior consultant to National Popular Vote, a Los Altos, California-based 501(c)4 advocacy group promoting the National Popular Vote plan. For more information visit: www.nationalpopularvote.com