Virginia Joins National Popular Vote Compact: A Step Closer to Electing the President by Popular Vote

On April 13, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a bill making the state the 18th to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC).

The NPVIC is an agreement among states to elect the U.S. president by the national popular vote rather than through the Electoral College system.

The compact will take effect once participating states collectively hold 270 electoral votes—the threshold required to elect a president. As of Virginia’s addition, the compact now includes 222 electoral votes.

What’s Next for the Popular Vote Movement?

Several key states could push the compact over the 270-vote threshold in the coming years. If Democrats secure control of state governments in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, or Arizona and adopt the compact, the total would exceed 270 electoral votes.

This development raises the possibility that the next U.S. president could be elected by the popular vote as early as 2028—a shift away from the current Electoral College system, which critics argue is undemocratic.

Why This Matters

The NPVIC aims to ensure that the candidate who wins the most votes nationwide becomes president, regardless of state-by-state outcomes. Currently, 48 states and Washington, D.C. use a winner-take-all system for electoral votes, while Maine and Nebraska allocate them by congressional district.

Proponents of the compact argue that it would make presidential elections more representative of the national electorate. Opponents, however, contend that it undermines the federalist structure of the Electoral College.

For more details on how the NPVIC could reshape U.S. elections, watch our latest video.