CHICAGO, July 21 (UPI) -- Electoral College reform advocates say their efforts to change the way the United States elects its presidents are showing results.
Backers of the National Popular Vote, a non-profit group in California, point out that four states have adopted measures that would instruct their presidential electors to cast their ballots for whichever presidential nominee wins the national popular vote, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.
Those states -- Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey -- represent 50 electoral votes, and if additional states combining for a total of 270 electoral votes pass similar measures, the nation would have a de facto popular vote presidential election system, supporters say.
National Popular Vote officials say similar measures have been introduced in 43 states. Others, however, warn that despite its flaws, the Electoral College system ensures that smaller states have a voice in national affairs, the newspaper said.
