I’ve written before about the move to nullify the electoral college and the Constitution through the National Popular Vote. Interestingly, New Hampshire has come across a unique way to prevent this overthrow of the supreme law of the land.
For those of you unfamiliar with the National Popular Vote movement, I recommend you read my article Disassembling the Republic with Good Intentions. The short version is, there are those who do not like the fact that the President is not elected by the people but by the states. While a few are proposing amending the Constitution to change the way the President is elected, some are trying to short-circuit the system by getting states to choose electors based on the mythical national popular vote rather than the vote of the citizens of their state. With 15 states representing 196 of the 270 electors needed to elect a President already signed on to the compact, what are those states who understand that the President is elected by the states not the people to do? Will our Constitution be overturned by a minority of states imposing their will on the majority? New Hampshire has a plan to avoid that.
Unless a recount has been requested pursuant to RSA 669, no officer, employee, or contractor of the state of New Hampshire or its political subdivisions shall publicly release the number of votes cast in the general election for president of the United States until after the time set by law for the meeting and voting of presidential electors has passed in all states.
NH HB1531
New Hampshire’s solution is both simple and ingenious. The state will simply not report their vote counts until after the electors have voted for President. As of the 2010 census, New Hampshire has approximate 1.3 million residents, or less the 1/2 of 1% of the population. If New Hampshire alone passes their legislation, it would only impact the National Popular Vote movement in close elections. But what if more states signed on? What if more states refused to release their vote counts until after the electors vote? As the percentage of the population not reporting vote totals grows, so does the impact on the NPV movement.
Those supporting the National Popular Vote are sure to cry foul. How dare a state interfere with their attempt to subvert the Constitution to get their way? Since the Constitution is a compact amongst the states, it is up to the states to stand up to those among them who are misbehaving. Whether you think a national popular vote for President is a good idea or not, the way to make it happen is to amend the Constitution, not go around it.
I encourage other states to join New Hampshire in standing up to this attempt to subvert the will of their citizens. The legislation is short and simple to understand. Send this article along with the link to the legislation to your state legislators and encourage them to honor the will of their citizens, not the will of other states. If you need help explaining it to them, then contact me and I’ll help as I can.
Don’t just sit around and wonder what others will do. Take up the responsibility of being a citizen of this country. Stand up for your rights and make your voice heard.
