Delaware House passes bill to give state’s Electoral College votes to popular vote winner

A bill that would give Delaware’s Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote passed the House.

The Delaware House last week passed the measure by a vote of 24-17 that would add that state to a joint pact already containing 12 states and the District of Columbia, according to local news outlet WHYY.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would only go into effect if enough states sign on to bring the total Electoral College votes to 270.

{mosads}Currently, with the recent addition of Colorado, whose governor signed the bill Friday, the total is 181, still well shy of the 270 needed. Delaware has only 3 Electoral College votes.

State Rep. David Bentz (D), the sponsor of the bill, said he proposed the legislation because Delaware is a forgotten state when it comes to the presidential election.

“We’re already overlooked,” Bentz said, according to WHYY “Delaware is seen as this true blue state. And if you’re a Republican voter what is your motivation to vote? Because you know at the end of the day Delaware’s three electoral votes will go to that Democrat. If you’re a Democrat maybe you’re not motivated either because you know you don’t have to.”

Opponents say the measure is in reaction to Democrats losing the recent presidential election.

President Trump won the 2016 election with 304 electoral votes compared to 227 for former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, while she edged out Trump in the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes.

Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) has already signaled he would sign his state’s version of the legislation if it were to get to his desk.