ONLINE: National Popular Vote

press release: The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is excited to invite you to join us in learning about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact on May 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Joining us in this discussion is Eileen Reavy, the grass roots director for the nonprofit organization National Popular Vote, Representative Gary Hebl, who will discuss the the bill’s progress in the Wisconsin Legislature, and Dr. Barbara Klein, who will tell us about the history of LWVUS' support of the National Popular Vote and the work of its task force. And of course, there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion!

The National Popular Vote Bill guarantees the presidency to the candidate who wins the most votes nationwide, which is not how our presidential electoral system works now. Currently, Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes go to the winner of the popular vote in the state. Votes for the second-place candidate, even in a close race and even if they are for the national popular vote winner, are ignored. The National Popular Vote will fix that. Fifteen States plus Washington DC have already passed the bill, amounting to 196 electoral votes- only 74 away from the 270 electoral votes required to activate the law. By passing the bill, Wisconsin can add its 10 electoral votes, bringing the nation closer to one person, one vote.

About the speakers

• Eileen Reavey serves as the national grassroots director for National Popular Vote. She works on building momentum and support for this issue nationwide, and on training volunteers to be organizers and informed advocates for the cause. Reavey is based in Portland, Oregon.
• Representative Gary Hebl (Assembly District 46) is a lifelong resident of Dane County and is currently serving his sixth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In addition to serving as a State Legislator, he is an attorney and a small business owner. Representative Hebl is the lead sponsor of the National Popular Vote bill that was introduced in the State Assembly on April 8, 2021.
• Dr. Barbara Klein is a member of the LWVUS National Popular Vote Task Force. Dr. Klein has been a 20-year League member, where she has held many offices and served numerous roles with Local Leagues, State Leagues (Arizona and Oregon) and the National League. In particular she has concentrated on election reform issues like ranked choice voting, redistricting, National Popular Vote, electoral structure and voter protection efforts.

You can register for this event here. We will be recording the event and posting it to our website after the event, so you will the opportunity to view it later, too.