The Libertarian Case

The National Popular Vote represents the ultimate devolution of power from central authorities. It expands the electoral power of each individual citizen by removing the inherent structural powers of the current system. It would mean that every citizen is at liberty to assign the influence of their vote to whichever candidate they see fit, rather than at the whim of the majority within their state. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact’s defining purpose is to center electoral politics around the fundamentally libertarian value of voter individuality.

The Winner-Take-All Method is Built to Maintain Establishment Power

The disproportionally minor influence of the Libertarian Party is a purposeful design of the current state-based winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes. This method was not designed, favored or anticipated by the Founding Fathers. Instead, it’s a result of decades of manipulation by establishment political forces.

Establishment manipulation of this system began in 1800 when Thomas Jefferson’s Republican Party changed Virginia’s vote to a general ticket. This change ensured Jefferson 100% of his home state’s electoral votes, while eliminating any chance of Federalist districts costing him votes. Alexander Hamilton rebuked this by calling New York’s legislature to adopt a district-based approach, to ensure the Federalist-incumbent John Adams a majority of the state’s electoral votes. (1)

Although Hamilton failed in his attempt, this exchange signaled the beginning of 80 years of political gamesmanship, (2) ultimately resulting in the state-based winner-take-all method we use today. Because the central organizing purpose of establishment politicians has always been to elect their respective candidate, the resulting method is inherently structured to preserve the electoral relevance of the establishment. 

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would change that by dissolving power from establishment political organizations to the citizens themselves. Don’t allow the establishment to cast your vote for you any longer. Demand that your vote counts for your choice.

  1. Koza, John R., et al. Every Vote Equal: A State Based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote, 4th ed., National Popular Vote Press, 2013, pp. 7-10. http://www.every-vote-equal.com/

  2. Smith, Robert E.  “Thomas M. Patterson, Colorado Statehood, and the Presidential Election of 1876.”  Colorado Magazine, v.53 n.2, Spring 1976.