Committee reports bill to join national popular vote compact after mixed testimony
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Summary
SB322 to add Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact was reported out of committee following testimony from supporters and opponents; supporters argued it equalizes votes nationwide, while opponents raised implementation risks like missing certified state totals.
A Senate committee voted to report SB322, a bill that would add Virginia to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, after proponents and opponents gave testimony.
Sponsor Senator Evan framed the compact as ensuring that “the presidency [goes] to the candidate who’s received the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” and described the compact as taking effect only after jurisdictions totaling 270 electoral votes join. He argued the compact would address disparities caused by the current winner-take-all electoral vote method and would incentivize presidential campaigns to engage more broadly across states.
Supporters — including Scott Drexel (National Popular Vote resource), Tram Nguyen (New Virginia Majority), Jane Newell (League of Women Voters of Virginia), Todd Park (Virginia Education Association) and Chris Kaiser (ACLU of Virginia) — urged the committee to support joining other states already in the compact and said the proposal would strengthen democratic participation.
Opponents, represented by Guy Rolling and Sean Parnell of Save Our State’s Action, warned of procedural defects in the compact’s mechanics and gave examples they said could cause administrative problems, such as a state failing to have certified vote totals in time. Parnell argued those scenarios could create “chaos, crisis, and controversy” if the compact were implemented without tighter safeguards.
After testimony, the committee moved to report SB322; the clerk read the recorded vote as eight in favor and six opposed (as read). The measure now advances for further consideration.