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Delaware joins National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

Sarah Mueller

Delaware is the 13th state, along with D.C., to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

Gov. John Carney signed State Sen. Bryan Townsend’s legislation adding Delaware to the pact Thursday.

States involved have pledged to award their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote - even if that person is not the state’s top vote-getter.

Townsend said he believes America’s founders intended to have every state be politically relevant in electing the president, instead of just battleground states.

“Sometimes getting things right means modifying a structure, which is not a departure from what was given to us, but an effectuation of the opportunity given to us,” he said.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact doesn’t eliminate the Electoral College. States in the compact now total 184 electoral votes. It needs to reach 270 electoral votes to take effect.

New Mexico may be the next to join the compact. That state’s General Assembly has passed legislation, which awaits action by the governor.

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