22NEWS AT 5:30. I'M ASHLEY
AFONSO
ASHLEY:
IT TAKES 270 ELECTORAL VOTES TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
22NEWS STATE HOUSE REPORTER
ELISHA MACHADO TELLS US ABOUT A
STATE
PROPOSAL THAT COULD CHANGE THAT.
ELISHA MACHADO:
SOME MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKERS ARE
CALLING ON
CONGRESS TO ABOLISH THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND INSTEAD
LET THE
PEOPLE'S VOTE DECIDE THE
PRESIDECY.
YOU CAST YOUR VOTE EVERY FOUR
YEARS TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED
STATES.
BUT THE WINNER OF THE POPULAR
VOTE DOESN'T ALWAYS BECOME
PRESIDENT,
AS WE'VE SEEN TWICE WITHIN THE
PAST 16 YEARS.
HILLARY CLINTON WON THE POPULAR
VOTE BUT DONALD TRUMP WON MORE
VOTES IN
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IN 2016,
GIVING HIM THE PRESIDENCY.
SIMILARLY TO THE 2000
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BETWEEN
GEORGE W. BUSH AND
AL GORE.
LONGMEADOW STATE SENATOR ERIC
LESSER FILED A RESOLUTION
CALLING ON
CONGRESS TO ABOLISH THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND ALLOW FOR
THE
DIRECT ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT BY THE
POPULAR VOTE.
STATE SENATOR ERIC LESSER, (D)
LONGMEADOW:
"THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR CHANGING
THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK
WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IN
THIS COUNTRY ABOUT WHETHER
THAT SYSTEM STILL MAKES SENSE."
ELISHA MACHADO:
THE BILL IS CURRENTLY UNDER
REVIEW BY THE STATE'S COMMITTEE
