NJ looking to change way electoral votes are given?

by: mconvente

Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 01:54:37 PM EST

There's a New York Times mini-article mentioning a proposal from the New Jersey Senate that would allot our 15 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote - in effect, the candidate who wins New Jersey may not win their electoral votes.

Here's a snip of the article:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey is close to entering a compact that would eliminate the power of the Electoral College to choose a president if enough states endorse the idea.

The state Senate voted Thursday to approve delivering the state's 15 electoral votes for president to the winner of the national popular vote. The Assembly approved the measure in December and needs Gov. Jon S. Corzine's signature to become law.

''The bill is subject to a thorough review, but Gov. Corzine has long been a supporter of this concept,'' Corzine spokesman Jim Gardner said.

The measure could result in the electoral votes going to a candidate opposed by voters in New Jersey, which has backed Democratic presidential candidates since 1988.

Personally, I think this proposal is horrible.  How could governor be behind a proposal that could possibly allot our electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, irregardless of who wins in New Jersey.  The Electoral College system has its positive and negative parts to it, but the way to eradicate it is *gulp* a Constitutional Convention.  Cutting and slicing the Electoral College out of commission with individual state proposals makes things way too confusing, and has been shown to give an advantage to Republicans (i.e. - the California proposal)

IMHO, this proposal is horrible.

Comments from the Blue Jersey denizens?