Democratic Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak vetoed a bill yesterday that would have given the state’s electoral college votes to presidential candidates who win the national popular vote–a move which would essentially make the electoral college irrelevant.
“After thoughtful deliberation, I have decided to veto Assembly Bill 186,” the governor said in a statement.
“Once effective, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could diminish the role of smaller states like Nevada in national electoral contests and force Nevada’s electors to side with whoever wins the nationwide popular vote, rather than the candidate Nevadans choose.”
“I recognize that many of my fellow Nevadans may disagree on this point and I appreciate the legislature’s thoughtful consideration of this important issue,” he continued.
The Hill reports:
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to join the pact, which will only take effect if a number of states holding the majority of the Electoral College’s 538 electoral votes join the agreement.
Colorado, Delaware and New Mexico all approved laws to join the initiative this year, bringing the pact up to 189 electoral votes — 81 short of the 270 necessary for it to take effect.
Attempts to get Nevada to pledge its six electoral votes to the national popular vote winner has failed twice, with attempts in the 2017 and 2009 legislative sessions failing to make it to the governor’s desk.
Earlier this month, the Nevada Senate passed Assembly Bill 186 which would have brought the state into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact if signed into law. The compact would act as an agreement between other involved states to grant their electoral college votes to whichever candidate wins the popular vote.
