Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote."
Impact
The primary impact of S1735 would be on the electoral process in New Jersey. By removing the agreement, it would ensure that electoral votes align with the state's popular vote. This change is positioned as a way to protect state voters' preferences and reassert the state's role in presidential elections. The bill reflects concerns that the popular vote agreement could undermine New Jersey voters' influence in the electoral college and potentially violate constitutional principles regarding state election laws.
Summary
S1735 proposes to repeal the 'Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote', which was established by New Jersey in 2007. This agreement aimed to allocate New Jersey's electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the national popular vote, regardless of the state's voting outcome. By repealing this agreement, the bill seeks to return New Jersey to the traditional 'winner-take-all' method of electoral vote allocation, which awards all of the state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the majority of votes in New Jersey.
Contention
Notably, the bill is expected to rekindle debates about the electoral college system and the popular vote. Supporters argue that it reinstates the principle of state choice in electing a president, while critics contend that it diminishes the influence of the popular vote at the national level, thereby disenfranchising a portion of the electorate. There may also be constitutional questions raised regarding the balance of electoral power and the multi-state nature of the agreement, which could lead to heightened scrutiny and legal challenges.