US States change law to avoid Al Gore 2000 situation

In many ways this is quite an extraordinary development. When you consider how the states of the US have fought over the years to keep their independence within the union, it is remarkable that Massachusetts has passed this law, following Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington.

The law will mean that the state’s electoral votes would be assigned to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote – regardless of whom Massachusetts voters preferred. So, a situation such as Al Gore in 2000 (when he had about a million more votes cast in his favour than George Bush, but still lost) would be avertedĀ if – and it’s a big “if” – enough states pass similar laws. The law in Massachusetts will only take effect if states holding at least 270 total electoral votes – the number required for winning the presidency – adopt similar laws.

Still, it is a refreshing step forward for democracy in the US – so well doneĀ to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington. You never know, there might be a “red state” following suit sooner or later!

Related posts:

  1. Toss-up states – reading the tea leaves
  2. US press articulate historic change
  3. McCain's chances of winning are worse than 1 in 256
  4. McCain’s chances of winning are worse than 1 in 256
  5. US Poll says race is closer in primary states

One Response to “US States change law to avoid Al Gore 2000 situation”

  • At any rate Gore is right regarding global warming, right? Or is he wrong? He says it was man-made, not just earth’s regular cycle over 1000′s of years. Ya think?

Leave a Reply

Unsolicited praise
" I am a fan!" - Dr Evan Harris
Follow paulwalteruk on Twitter
Unsolicited praise
"There is a refreshing frankness to the musings of Liberal Burblings which single this blog out. The ability to not mince one's words is highly prized here and, when combined with the ability to profane without insulting the reader's intelligence, is excellent. Whether pondering on the state of the Lib Dems, the country or the world at large, you can rely on Liberal Burblings to tell it like he thinks it is." - www.politics.co.uk
Lower Manhattan
Me with Paddy
New York

The actors and jesters are here
The stage is in darkness and clear
For raising the curtain
And no one's quite certain whose play it is

-Supertramp "If everyone was listening"
My desk
Me with Nick
We are often Golden
Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice

And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

"American Pie" Don McLean
Upton, Cornwall
Paul

Burbler-in-chief
Glasgow – the Clyde
Bude, Cornwall
Wise words
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare? W.H.Davies
Notice
The views expressed in main posts here (excluding comments) are the personal views of the website owner only, and are not the views of any other person or corporate body. Comments underneath posts are not the opinions of the website owner. The website owner is not responsible for the content of external internet sites which are the subject of links on this website.
Malahide, Ireland