Scheme to eliminate Electoral College now has 15 states on board

Nevada has become the latest state to sign onto a plan that would give the state’s Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote regardless of how the state’s own citizens vote.

The scheme, being led by an organization called National Popular Vote, would go into effect when enough states join to equal 270 Electoral College votes. With the addition of Nevada, thus far the movement has gained 195 electoral votes.

The plan would also likely have to survive a Supreme Court challenge before being put into play.

Nevada Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, a Republican, said the whole plan runs contrary to the American tradition. “If we go to a national popular vote, why would they even bother coming here? Our constitution says we’re a republic, not a democracy,” Wheeler said. “I voted ‘no’ on the national popular vote because I don’t want Nevada to be a flyover state.”

Along with Nevada, the states signed on with the scheme are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington.