OPINION: Every vote in every state should matter

Published 8:23 am Wednesday, November 27, 2024

As president and vice president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon, we’d like to extend our appreciation to state legislators for their decision in recent years to sign onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

The need for the compact, which would improve the Electoral College, was clear in our November presidential election.

As people watched presidential returns from their TV sets or computer screens, it was obvious that most votes around the country were of little value in deciding the race. The votes from Republicans in Oregon reaped limited attention and made little impact.

The same was true for Republicans in our state neighbors, Washington and California. Likewise for Democrats in solidly-red states. Every vote does not count equally in our presidential elections.

The Electoral College has been flawed for decades. Not because of who it elects, or does not elect, but because as it stands, only the influential swing states matter. The rest of us in “fly-over states” are almost invisible, and taken for granted as a surefire red or blue win. Voter inequity is compounded as presidential campaigns (and promises) focus disproportionately on the handful of swing states—Oregon not being one of them.

The League of Women Voters of the United States established a position over 50 years ago to support abolishing the Electoral College. As a compromise, we also support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

The compact maintains the Electoral College. However, it uses the constitution to improve the system by guaranteeing the candidate who garners the most votes nationwide wins.

It would ensure all votes are equal, including Republicans in blue states and Democrats in red ones.

With the states currently having signed onto the compact, now representing 209 of the 270 electoral votes required for it to take effect, it is possible that this could be the last presidential election without a true national popular vote.

Short of a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is crucial to ensure that every citizen’s vote, in every state, truly matters in our presidential elections.

We want to thank our state legislators for their commitment to this important cause. The League of Women Voters stands for “Every Vote Equal.”

• Lisa Bentson of Neskowin, Ore., is president of the League of Women Voters Oregon.
• Barbara Klein of Ashland, Ore., is vice president/communications of the League of Women Voters Oregon.