Advocacy for Alteration in the US Electoral College Offers Promise for Future Climate Policy Adjustments
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is a significant step towards reforming the United States' electoral system. Under the NPVIC, states commit to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote instead of the current system where each state (except Maine and Nebraska) awards its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in that state.
The NPVIC has secured 209 electoral votes, leaving just 61 more to go before it becomes effective. The compact will go into effect when states controlling at least 270 electoral votes have joined. This change could potentially alter the outcome of future presidential elections, giving more power to the collective voice of the nation's voters.
The current electoral college system devalues the voting power of individuals in states far from the national median partisanship. This system has been a topic of debate for years, with many arguing that it disenfranchises voters in densely populated, liberal states.
The Biden Administration has implemented several federal climate policies, while the Trump Administration slashed participation in the Paris Agreement, EV incentives, and offshore wind installations. The US Climate Alliance, comprising 24 governors representing 60% of the US economy, has been a driving force in promoting climate action at the state level.
Climate change is a collective action problem, and higher income, better educated voters (typically living in blue states) are more likely to support climate action. A cautious or conservative approach to estimating emissions responsibility of voters is to equally apportion the emissions total to the total electoral districts that elect members of Congress and then give equal responsibility to every registered voter in those districts.
The Environmental Voter Project (EVP) identifies millions of non-voting environmentalists and turns them into consistent voters. EVP founder Nathaniel Stinnett emphasises the importance of connecting with others who share values for accomplishing climate policy. He believes that the NPVIC could make a difference in future climate mitigation efforts.
However, the question of which U.S. states have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or are still considering joining remains unclear. Meanwhile, blue state governors are preparing to discuss coordinating state tax policy to offset federal cuts, suggesting a growing trend towards interstate cooperation on key issues.
The potential climate responsibility of voting is higher than most individual lifestyle decisions that the average person has the opportunity to make. Matthew Burgess, CIRES Fellow and C-SEF director, explains why climate change is a strong predictor of future voting. As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, it is likely that voters will continue to prioritise climate action in their decisions.
A second way to apportion the emissions (in)action from an election is to do so only to winning electoral districts. This approach could highlight the importance of climate action in decisive states and increase pressure on candidates to address climate change in their platforms.
In conclusion, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and related initiatives represent a significant shift in American politics, with the potential to empower voters, promote climate action, and reshape the electoral landscape. As the effects of climate change become more apparent, it is likely that these issues will continue to dominate the political discourse in the years to come.
