Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson Supports Federal Constitutional Amendment for Direct Election of the President and Passage by State Legislatures of the National Popular Vote Bill
Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson has introduced a federal constitutional amendment for a national popular vote. Senator Nelson also supports passage of the National Popular Vote bill by state legislatures as reported by an article in the Tampa Tribune (June 14, 2008):
Nelson acknowledged it will be difficult to achieve the constitutional amendment necessary to abolish the Electoral College, because small states will oppose it.
To "speed things along," he also recommends the move for "national popular vote" legislation in each state. According to the movement's Web site, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland have passed it.
Under that legislation, a state agrees to give its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, regardless of the outcome in the state.
The legislation specifies that it won't take effect until states representing a total of 270 electoral votes, a majority in the Electoral College, have passed it, agreeing to abide by the national vote. That would guarantee the national vote winner becomes president.
