- Don’t we already vote for president directly?
No. Currently, when you cast your vote for president you are telling your state electoral college electors how to cast their votes for president. Remember, in the electoral college system, it is the electors who vote for the president, not the actual voters.
In 48 states (including CO), the electors will all vote for the same candidate, the winner of the popular vote in the state; this is commonly referred to as "winner-takes-all". Two states, ME and NE, split their electors based on their voters so that some of their electors will vote for one candidate while some of their electors will vote for another candidate.
- Is the Electoral College and "winner-takes-all" method in the U.S. Constitution?
The electoral college is defined in the U.S. Constitution, however, the "winner-takes-all" method is not. The U.S. Constitution gives the states the “exclusive” and “plenary” power to choose the method of awarding their electoral votes. Awarding its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote is within the constitutional rights of the state legislature.
- Wouldn’t the National Popular Vote require a Constitutional amendment?
No. Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution gives states the exclusive power to choose how they select and instruct their electors. Just as states chose to adopt the “winner-take-all” laws, they have the power to repeal them.
- Does the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact replace the Electoral College?
No. The NPVIC works hand-in-hand with the electoral college. NPVIC simply offers states an alternative to the "winner-takes-all" method of awarding their electoral college votes.
- Is the National Popular Vote a partisan issue?
In general, making every vote count is not a partisan issue and in the past many prominent politicians on both sides have supported a National Popular Vote.