Rock the Vote President calls for dismantling of electoral college

Rock the Vote President Carolyn Dewitt on Thursday said that the organization is “very much” in favor of “dismantling” the electoral college and electing presidents based on who wins the popular vote.

“Absolutely, we are very much about dismantling the electoral college,” Dewitt, who is also the executive director of the group which is geared towards gaining power for young voters, told Hill.TV.

“It is something the American public wants and we very much need to get back to one vote, one person,” she continued.

Dewitt argues that one feasible way to ensure that every vote counts is the national popular vote initiative, which has seen growing support.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) agreement has been slowly gaining traction ever since President Trump won the 2016 election despite losing the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. Trump won the electoral college, 304-227 to take the White House.

The joint agreement would essentially bypass the Electoral College if enough states join. So far, 12 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the agreement.

Earlier this month, Colorado became the latest state to sign on to the agreement, bringing the compact up to 181 electoral votes, which is still well below the 270 votes needed to win a presidential election. Some opponents have also argued that the plan would first need to be approved by Congress before taking effect.

Dewitt remains hopeful about the pact. 

“We’re actually not that far — we just need to a few more states to sign onto it,” she said.

Several 2020 Democratic hopefuls, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), have expressed support for abolishing the electoral college.

“My view is that every vote matters and the way we can make that happen is that we can have national voting and that means get rid of the Electoral College,” Warren said during a CNN town hall.

—Tess Bonn