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Imagine if your vote that you cast in your state gets counted in a "National" way, instead of just going towards your state's Electoral College? As in 2000 when Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the electoral college vote, a citizen's vote in one state (like Florida in 2000) can count more than another vote in a different state. For this reason, there has been a push to eliminate the Electoral College system that has been electing our presidents since the 18th century. And recently in Maryland, this effort received a very big vote of confidence:

On Monday, April 2nd, the Maryland House of Delegates passed the historic National Popular Vote plan by a margin of 85 to 54. This huge win for fair presidential elections comes quickly on the heels of the State Senate's passage of the same legislation last week by a vote of 29 to 17. The bill will now head to the desk of Governor Martin O'Malley who has indicated that he will sign the bill into law.

Here's how it would work:

The National Popular Vote plan is an innovative proposal that would unite states through an interstate compact to award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes nationwide (in all 50 states and the District of Columbia). The National Popular Vote plan would take effect only when the plan has been enacted by states collectively possessing at least a majority of the electoral votes that is 270 of the 538 electoral votes. This guarantees that the presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes nationwide will win enough electoral votes in the Electoral College to become President.

Developed by National Popular Vote, this plan would ensure an equally meaningful vote for Americans in all states, not just "battlegrounds" like Florida and Ohio, by having states use their constitutional powers to guarantee election of the national popular vote winner in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

What an innovative way to get rid of the Electoral College once and for all!

Check out FairVote.org and donate to support the cause:

Founded in 1992 and operating for many years as the Center for Voting and Democracy, FairVote is the leading national organization acting to transform our elections to achieve unfettered, fraud-free access to participation, a full spectrum of meaningful choices and majority rule with fair representation and a voice for all.

Achieving our goals rests upon bold, but achievable reforms: a constitutionally protected right to vote, direct election of the president, instant runoff voting for executive elections and proportional voting for legislative elections. As a reform catalyst, we develop and promote practical strategies to improve elections for local, state and national leaders.

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