Michigan and Wisconsin Trifectas Boost Prospects of Passing National Popular Vote in 2027

In Tuesday's election, Michigan voters gave the Democrats a majority in the state House of Representatives --- while keeping the Governor's office and state Senate.

In 2026, the National Popular Vote bill was sponsored by 42 Michigan State Representatives (HB6213, HB6214). However, the bill did not even receive a hearing due to the opposition of the House leadership at the time.

Also, Wisconsin voters gave Democrats both houses of the legislature and the governor's office (a so-called "trifecta") in Tuesday's election.

Michigan and Wisconsin together have 25 electoral votes. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is currently 48 votes short of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate it. So, if Michigan and Wisconsin were to approve the Compact in 2027, the Compact will be 25 electoral votes closer to the needed 270 votes.

The map below shows the 18 states and the District of Columbia that have already enacted the National Popular Vote Compact into law.

map from Mother Jones video by Ari Berman

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Popular Vote Compact will guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

It will make every vote equal throughout the United States.

It will give presidential candidates a compelling reason to solicit the support of voters in all 50 states and DC.

SHORTCOMINGS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM

• Five of our 47 Presidents came into office without winning the most popular votes nationwide.
• Every vote is not equal in presidential elections.
• The current state-by-state winner-take-all system regularly enables a few thousand votes in seven or so closely divided states to decide the Presidency—leaving 43 states and 80% of Americans on the sidelines.

HOW NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE WORKS

The winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes is not in the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution says:

“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors….”

The Constitution gives the states exclusive control over the choice of method of awarding their electoral votes. A state legislature and governor can replace the current winner-take-all method in the same way it initially adopted it, namely by passing a new state law.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact will take effect when approved by states with a majority of the electoral votes (270 of 538). Then, the presidential candidate winning the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC will get all the electoral votes from all of the enacting states. That is, the candidate winning the most popular votes nationwide will be guaranteed enough votes in the Electoral College to become President.

Under the National Popular Vote law, no voter will have their vote cancelled out because their choice differed from prevailing sentiment in their state. Instead, every voter’s vote will be added directly into the national count of the candidate chosen by that voter. 

This will ensure that every voter, in every state, will be politically relevant in every presidential election—regardless of where they live.

PUBLIC SUPPORT

According to a recent Pew poll, 63% of Americans say that the winner of the popular vote nationwide should win the presidency. 

80% of Democrats and 46% of Republicans support a national popular vote for President. Details

61% of moderate and liberal Republicans support a national popular vote for President.

NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Our book Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote can be read or downloaded for free at www.Every-Vote-Equal.com. The book contains answers to 175 myths about National Popular Vote.

More information is also available at the

National Popular Vote home page

SUPPORT NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE IN YOUR STATE

Please email your state legislators asking them to pass the National Popular Vote Compact using our convenient system.