Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB156

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/10/23
• Refer: 4/10/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Entering into an agreement among the states to elect the president and vice president of the United States by means of a national popular vote.

Impact

If enacted, AB156 would significantly alter the electoral dynamics in Wisconsin, aligning state practices with the national popular vote framework. This would mean that in any future presidential elections, the state's electoral votes would reflect the outcome of the total popular votes across participating states, which have collectively earned a majority of the electoral votes. This change could pave the way for legislation that might foster a more democratic representation of the electorate's choice across the nation.

Summary

Assembly Bill 156 proposes an agreement among states to elect the president and vice president of the United States through a national popular vote. If this compact is activated, the state will allocate its electoral votes to the candidates who secure the most popular votes nationwide, rather than those endorsed by state-level voting results. The bill includes various amendments to existing statutes to enable this transformative electoral mechanism in Wisconsin, specifically focusing on how electors are determined and how votes are certified.

Contention

The bill has sparked debates among lawmakers and constituents. Proponents argue that moving to a national popular vote would enhance democracy by ensuring that every vote carries equal weight, irrespective of geographic disparities. Critics, however, raise concerns that this system could weaken the influence of smaller and rural states by allowing populous urban areas to dominate election outcomes. The implications of such a system may pose risks to the federal structure of elections and could lead to unforeseen consequences in state governance and political representation.