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mvymvy

(309 posts)

22. Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the United States Code Requires States to Report Totals

Wed Feb 1, 2012, 09:09 PM

Feb 2012

When the National Popular Vote compact is in effect, the enacting states would control the majority of electoral votes (270+) needed to win the Presidency.

Current federal law (Title 3, chapter 1, section 6 of the United States Code) requires the states to report the November popular vote numbers (the "canvas&quot in what is called a "Certificate of Ascertainment." They list the electors and the number of votes cast for each. The Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes reported in the Certificates of Ascertainment. You can see the Certificates of Ascertainment for all 50 states and the District of Columbia containing the official count of the popular vote at the NARA web site

Making election returns secret is not within the realm of political possibility in the real world. This far-fetched possibility assumes that there is a state in the country whose legislature, governor, and voters would permit making election returns secret for any reason.

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End the electoral college [View all] wilt the stilt Jan 2012 OP

Agreed. Here's a good mathematical case for why... Scuba Jan 2012 #1

The National Popular Vote Bill mvymvy Jan 2012 #2

It's completely unenforceable. Angleae Jan 2012 #3

Realities mvymvy Jan 2012 #5

The whole thing boils down to one question. Angleae Feb 2012 #6

Neither party will allow it to happen joeglow3 Feb 2012 #10

There are all kinds of constitutional problems with National Popular Vote. Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #14

Each state has a number of electors equal to its total Congressional representation Zebedeo Jan 2012 #4

Why must this compromise extend to the Presidential election? 2ndAmForComputers Feb 2012 #19

Sounds great, but not likely to ever happen Major Nikon Feb 2012 #7

National Popular Vote is not a constitutional amendment mvymvy Feb 2012 #9

That doesn't end the electorial college as the OP suggested Major Nikon Feb 2012 #12

National Popular Vote does not end the EC, but it does make every vote equal mvymvy Feb 2012 #15

And it's probably unconstitutional. Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #18

Would be great -IF... upi402 Feb 2012 #8

As long as you like having the interior states unpaved. nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #11

No, we can't Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #13

NPV does NOT require a constitutional amendment. It is 49% of the way to going into effect mvymvy Feb 2012 #16

What stops a state from just not doing this, or Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #17

or if (say) Texas chooses to not participate, and declines to provide a popular vote count? Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #20

Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the United States Code Requires States to Report Totals mvymvy Feb 2012 #22

And what if Texas refuses? What's the remedy? Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #23

49% of the way to going into effect - Enacted by 3 jurisdictions among the 13 smallest states mvymvy Feb 2012 #21

I'm still not buying it Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #24

It would be a constitutional and administrative nightmare. Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #25

NPV achieves the goal of guaranteeing the Presidency to Candidate with most national popular votes mvymvy Feb 2012 #26

But it would be the popular vote of only the states in that 270 block Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #29

Winner of Popular Vote in ALL 50 States and DC gets NPV's enacting states' electoral votes - 270+ mvymvy Feb 2012 #31

I'm still not buying it.. again Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #34

see my post #13 of why this can't be done Motown_Johnny Feb 2012 #28

See Post #16 mvymvy Feb 2012 #32

Why? Don't you like a select group picking our leader for us? Rex Feb 2012 #27

It won't change much zipplewrath Feb 2012 #30

Any state that enacts the proportional approach on its own would reduce its own influence mvymvy Feb 2012 #33

About 76% of Americans and States are Ignored Under the Current System mvymvy Feb 2012 #35

When a presidential candidate spends more time in Iowa than California taught_me_patience Feb 2012 #36

That's a totally separate issue. The primary system is decided by the parties Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #37

Iowa was a swing state in 2008 taught_me_patience Feb 2012 #38

Sorry, thought you were talking about the caucuses (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2012 #39

To answer your Q directly: "No, we cannot end it." Bruce Wayne Feb 2012 #40