The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is starting to get major attention. Robert Reich just released an explainer video on it and the New York Times just published an Op Ed regarding it. The Daily Kos community has been super interested in the compact since last November.
On November 9th, 2016 the Daily Kos activism and social media teams launched a petition in support of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Within five days one million people had signed it nationwide, adding over 700,000 new members to our community.
We often get large signature counts on petitions, but this is by far the largest response we have ever received from the community. Knowing there was a big demand for action on electoral college reform, we sprung to action to try and help pass the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC from here on out).
Just in case this is your first time hearing of this legislation here is a quick overview thanks to the National Popular Vote website:
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Explanation It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes (CA, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, VT, WA). This interstate compact will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more electoral votes. It has passed at least one house in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes (AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, ME, MI, NC, NM, NV, OK, OR) and been approved unanimously by committee votes in two additional states with 27 electoral votes (GA, MO). Most recently, the bill was passed by a 40–16 vote in the Republican-controlled Arizona House, 28–18 in Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate, 57–4 in Republican-controlled New York Senate, 37–21 in Democratic-controlled Oregon House, and 26-16 in the New Mexico Senate.
We were able to connect with organizations who were working to move NPVIC legislation through state legislatures around the country, the most prominent one being National Popular Vote. Some had been doing this for years: Common Cause, League of Women Voters, BusProject, US Popular Vote, One Nation One Vote and many others were just getting involved. Much of the country went looking for answers on November 9th and found NPVIC.
So our job at Daily Kos was to listen, learn and collaborate with these folks and see where we could put our strengths — the ability to drive large numbers of social media shares, petition signatures, phone calls, letters to elected officials, rally attendees, and more — to use.
We looked at all the states that had introduced NPVIC legislation over the past year. Then we looked at which ones were controlled by Democrats. As a partisan community we are most powerful speaking to our own party . Then we made sure we had a decent number of community members in the state. This led us to Connecticut and Oregon. We reached out, we made connections with the grassroots leaders in those states and asked how we could help. And then we reached out to you and you stepped up in a major way (if you live in CT or OR)
In Connecticut 17,453 Daily Kos Community members signed the national petition in support of NPVIC. We were able to connect these folks with activists on the ground in the following ways:
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1,758 Connecticut Daily Kos members signing a petition to the Connecticut Democratic leadership asking that they stand together and pass NPVIC--something that is possible in Connecticut without the support of a single Republican. And I must note, due to human error that number is small. I didn't send an action email to the entire possible Connecticut Daily Kos universe by mistake. smh. Still, that number may seem small but not at the state legislature level. A little can go a long way according to the activists on the ground that we collaborate with.
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26 Connecticut Daily Kos members showing up IN REAL LIFE to the rally in support of National Popular Vote at the state capitol. And that may seem small as well but there are a couple key points to keep in mind. .Anyone who has organized a rally or march knows that every person who shows took a ton of organizing time to get there. These 26 were recruited relatively quickly via self selection by signing a petition regarding NPVIC prior followed by a simple email giving them the event time and place. This is time saved for organizers on the ground and a much appreciated boost to their numbers. So, 26 is actually darn good.
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Our best estimate is about 100 folks made phone calls on March 24th to the Connecticut State Senate General Administration and Election committee to demand they support NPVIC legislation during the vote scheduled for that day. Because we can't track the numbers of calls like we can clicks and emails sent, we aren't sure. You know those report back forms we ask you to fill out when we ask you to make a call? This is why they are important. Please fill those out if you make a call. (thanks!)
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And last, but certainly not least, 1313 Daily Kos Connecticuters wrote a personalized email to their state legislator in support of NPVIC. And because the Daily Kos Community is so amazing, these ARE NOT form letters. We leave all the writing to you and you do it well. 1311 individually written emails on any topic at the state level is powerful. Thank you.
In Oregon 39,420 Daily Kos members signed the national petition in support of NPVIC. Once again, we connected them with in-state organizers working to pass the legislation there
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4729 Daily Kos Oregonians signed the petition in support of NPVIC legislation introduced in Oregon.
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1010 constituent emails were sent, again completely personalized, not form letters.
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747 Daily Kos community members submitted written testimony for the Oregon State Senate hearing on NPVIC legislation.
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300 called their senator and demanded this legislation pass this year.
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And 3560 DK Oregon folks signed a petition and sent an inspirational message to Senator Ginny Burdick asking her to let NPVIC legislation get a vote on the Senate floor.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? Despite our best efforts and the efforts of many other groups, NPVIC did not pass in either state in the 2017 state legislative session.
I interviewed some of the key grassroots activists that we worked with to get their take on why NPVIC legislation didn't pass in these states. Click here for the Connecticut breakdown and/or click here for the Oregon one.