LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On Thursday, the House introduced legislation which would add Michigan to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) which was referred to the Elections Committee for review. 

Representative Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) announced the legislation on Wednesday which she claimed would protect democracy in Michigan.

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“The fundamental matter of fairness and safeguarding our democracy is what we’re here to talk about today,” Rep. Rheingans said, “The National Popular Vote ensures that every voter in every state will have an equal say in the Presidential election.  It means that every voice will be heard no matter where you live, what you look like, or what party you support.”

While there are presently no Republican Representatives co-sponsoring the legislation according to Rep. Rheingans, a number of past Republican leaders have announced their support for the bill that could add Michigan to the 15 states already in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) via a press release from the Conservatives for National Popular Vote. 

“By enacting the compact, the Legislature ensures that the impact of each and every vote cast here in Michigan equals that of any and all votes cast in every other state in presidential elections,” the release said. “Importantly, this guarantees a truly national election to elect the president of the United States and not the president of the battleground states.”

The signers of the letter include former Speakers of the House Kevin Cotter and Chuck Perricone; former Senate Majority Leaders Mike Bishop, Dick Posthumus, Randy Richardville and Ken Sikkema; and former Michigan Republican Party chairmen Saul Anuzis and Laura Cox. Other signers included former Senators Mike Green and Phil Pavlov.

Former congressional candidate and former Vice Chair of the 1st Congressional District in Watersmeet, Tom Stillings expressed his reservations about the NPVIC because of the process of states’ votes going towards the candidate with the most popular votes. 

“If [Michigan voters] disagree and we vote in any majority way for a candidate other than the big powers want, our voice is overridden, not only does our guy not get out votes, and our votes go to a guy we didn’t want,” Stillings said. 

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He called it a travesty if Michigan joined the NPVIC because it would be asking voters of Michigan to give up control of electoral votes for nothing in return. 

Michigan could potentially  become the 16th state to join as so far 15 states have enacted the National Popular Vote legislation; they are Delaware, California, Washington, Illinois, New York, Oregon, New Mexico, New Jersey, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts.  These states represent 195 of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate the law.