What is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

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Alabama certificate showing the state's electors' votes — Electoral College A certificate from Alabama showing the signatures of the state's electors in 2000. The nine electors voted for George W. Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among several U.S. states and the District of Columbia designed to ensure that the president of the United States is the candidate who wins the national popular vote.1

Under this compact, member states agree to award all their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of the outcome within their own borders. The agreement is intended to circumvent the Electoral College system, which currently allows a candidate to win the presidency while losing the national popular vote.1

Key details include:
* Activation: The compact will take effect only once member states collectively account for at least 270 electoral votes.1
* Status: As of May 2024, 17 states and the District of Columbia have joined, representing 209 electoral votes.1
* Purpose: Proponents argue it makes every voter relevant and encourages candidates to campaign nationwide rather than focusing solely on "battleground" states.1
* Criticism: Skeptics raise concerns regarding its constitutionality, potential for legal challenges, and the risk of political instability if states are required to ignore their own voters' preferences.1