Virginia joins the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact after Gov. Spanberger signed HB 965 into law, though it won’t take effect unless more states join.
Author: Kathleen Lundy
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia will join an interstate compact aimed at awarding the presidency to the winner of the national popular vote after Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 965 into law.
HB 965, titled Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote, commits the Commonwealth to joining other participating states and the District of Columbia in awarding their electoral votes to the presidential ticket that receives the most votes nationwide, rather than the winner of the state-by-state Electoral College tally.
Supporters of the measure point to Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which gives states broad authority to decide how their electoral votes are awarded. Under the compact, each member state would still conduct its own statewide presidential election. Still, election officials would combine vote totals from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to determine a single national popular vote winner.
Once the compact takes effect, Virginia’s presidential electors would be certified in association with that national winner, regardless of the outcome within the Commonwealth.
However, the law will not take effect immediately in practice. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact only becomes operative once participating states collectively control at least 270 electoral votes — enough to secure the presidency.