Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government

HB 1143

Brief Description:  Adjusting apportionment of presidential electors.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Morris, Benson, Edmonds, Ogden, Jackley and Lovick.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Apportions the state's presidential electors based, in part, on the popular vote in each congressional district.

Hearing Date:  1/29/01

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

Background: 

Candidates for President and Vice‑President of the United States are not elected by direct popular vote.  The candidates are elected by the electoral college, whose delegates are chosen by the states.  Each state has the same number of presidential electors as it has United States Representatives and Senators combined.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia select their presidential electors based on the popular vote.  In Washington, along with 47 other states and the District of Columbia, whichever Presidential and Vice‑Presidential candidates get the most votes state‑wide get all the electoral votes for the state.  In two states, Maine and Nebraska, the overall state winner gets two electoral votes; the remaining electoral votes are selected based on the votes within the states' congressional districts.

Summary of Bill: 

Presidential electors in Washington are selected in the following manner:

$Two electors are selected based on the state-wide popular vote;

$The remaining electors are selected based on the popular vote in each congressional district.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.