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Connecticut House OK's Presidential Popular Vote Measure

The Connecticut House of Representatives narrowly voted on Thursday, April 26 to approve a bill directing the state to join a compact committing its seven electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote, according to multiple news reports.

The Connecticut House of Representatives narrowly approved a measure to cast its seven presidential delegates to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in future elections.

The Connecticut House of Representatives narrowly approved a measure to cast its seven presidential delegates to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in future elections.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig

The compact would not take effect until states representing 270 electoral votes sign onto a compact that would undo a 200-year-old element of the U.S. Constitution. If approved by its state Senate, Connecticut would bring the tally to 11 states and 172 electoral votes.

The candidate with the most votes should win, a standard that applies to every elective office in America except the presidency. 

About two-thirds of all campaign events in 2016 were held in just six states: Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Michigan.

Thursday's 77-73 vote followed a one-sided: Rep. Daniel Fox, D-Stamford, defended the bill against criticism from Republicans, many of whom see the compact as sour grapes over Donald Trump's 2016 election, according to this report.

Two of the last three presidents are Republicans who lost the popular vote: George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald J. Trump in 2016. A swing of 60,000 votes in Ohio -- where there was a recount in 2004 -- would have given Democrat John Kerry the presidency.

Every Republican but Livvy Floren of Greenwich opposed the compact. All but three Democrats -- Pat Boyd of Pomfret, Daniel Rovero of Killingly and Christopher Ziogas of Bristol -- supported it.

Rep. Laura Devlin, R-Fairfield, said the compact would disenfranchise voters.

Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton of Chappaqua by nearly 3 million votes in 2016. 

On Fox & Friends on Thursday, Trump said: "I would rather have the popular vote because it's to me, it's much easier to win the popular vote."

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