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69th Legislature 2025 SJ 24.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SJ 24
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24
2 INTRODUCED BY J. WINDY BOY, S. WEBBER, D. HAYMAN, M. DUNWELL, D. FERN, C. FITZPATRICK, T.
3 FRANCE, Z. ZEPHYR
4
5 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
6 MONTANA SUPPORTING HAVING THE STATE JOIN THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INITIATIVE.
7
8 WHEREAS, the first proposal to change the electoral college system by constitutional amendment was
9 introduced in 1800, and since then more than 700 proposals to reform or eliminate the electoral college have
10 been introduced in Congress; and
11 WHEREAS, the electoral college does not provide for direct democratic elections; and
12 WHEREAS, the electoral college results in presidential elections predict most state election outcomes
13 before each election and direct the overwhelming majority of campaign resources and attention to the voters of
14 a few states; and
15 WHEREAS, the electoral college makes it possible for candidates to win an electoral college majority
16 and the presidency while gaining fewer votes nationwide than their principal opponents in the popular election;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, under the current system, 5 of the nation's 47 presidents won the election without winning
19 the popular vote; and
20 WHEREAS, the National Popular Vote Initiative was founded in 2006, promoting an interstate compact
21 that would establish direct popular election of the President and Vice President without a constitutional
22 amendment while retaining the structure of the electoral college system; and
23 WHEREAS, the National Popular Vote would guarantee that the presidential candidates who win the
24 most popular votes nationwide always win the presidency; and
25 WHEREAS, the National Popular Vote would encourage candidates to extend their focus beyond
26 winning battleground states and campaign more widely and devote greater attention to issues of concern in all
27 parts of the country; and
28 WHEREAS, the National Popular Vote would ensure that every voter, in every state, has an equal vote
69th Legislature 2025 SJ 24.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SJ 24
1 in every presidential election; and
2 WHEREAS, as of 2024, 17 states and the District of Columbia have passed the National Popular Vote
3 law, representing 209 of the 270 electoral votes needed to make the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
4 take effect; and
5 WHEREAS, the National Popular Vote does not require an amendment to Montana's Constitution or
6 the United States Constitution but does require the state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, Article II, section 1, clause 2, of the United States Constitution gives each state legislature
9 the exclusive power to decide how its electoral votes are awarded.
10
11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
12 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
13 That the Legislature recommends that the State of Montana join the National Popular Vote Interstate
14 Compact to elect the President and Vice President by national popular vote for all future presidential elections.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to each
16 member of the Montana Congressional Delegation and to each federally recognized tribal government in
17 Montana.
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