Electoral reform in New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Electoral reform in New Jersey refers to efforts to change the voting laws in the Garden state.
become the second state, after Maryland
, to pass legislation that opposes the Electoral College in the United States
. The compact, signed by Democratic Governor
Jon S. Corzine, would deliver the state's 15 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The compact, however, would take effect only if enough states agree to it, that is, enough states to win a majority of votes in the Electoral College. The goal of such legislation is to ensure that an occurrence similar to that of the 2000 election, where the winner of the Presidential election did not hold the highest number of votes nationally, does not happen. Republican members of the New Jersey General Assembly
opposed the legislation.
Assemblyman Richard Merkt is quoted as saying,
Electoral College
In January 2008, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
become the second state, after Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, to pass legislation that opposes the Electoral College in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The compact, signed by Democratic Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jon S. Corzine, would deliver the state's 15 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The compact, however, would take effect only if enough states agree to it, that is, enough states to win a majority of votes in the Electoral College. The goal of such legislation is to ensure that an occurrence similar to that of the 2000 election, where the winner of the Presidential election did not hold the highest number of votes nationally, does not happen. Republican members of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
opposed the legislation.
Assemblyman Richard Merkt is quoted as saying,