Federal

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the Senate is made more representative by adding twelve Senators to be elected nationwide through ranked choice voting, and providing for twelve Electors at-large for President and Vice President, who shall cast their ballots for the respective winners of the national popular vote.

Source: Congress.gov · 1,070 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill proposes adding twelve new Senators who would be elected nationwide instead of by individual states. It also proposes creating twelve new Electoral votes (the votes that actually determine the President) that would go to whoever wins the national popular vote.

Who It Affects

Eligible voters nationwide, the Senate, Congress, state election officials, the President, and the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Key Provisions

• The Senate gets twelve new "Senators at-large" elected by all U.S. voters for six-year terms, and these Senators have the same age and citizenship requirements as regular Senators (Sec. 1) • Voters rank their choices for these twelve Senate seats in order of preference, with each voter's ranking counting equally, and one-third of the seats are up for election every two years (Sec. 2) • When a Senate at-large seat becomes vacant, the President appoints someone from the same political party to fill it within thirty days, and a special election happens if the seat is not up for election at the next general election (Sec. 4) • Twelve new Electoral votes are created that go to whoever wins the most votes nationwide in the presidential election (Sec. 7) • Congress can make laws to carry out this amendment, including setting up the voting procedures (Sec. 8)

What Changes

If ratified, the Senate grows from 100 Senators (two per state) to 112 Senators. The Electoral College grows from its current size to include twelve additional votes that are awarded based on the national popular vote instead of state-by-state results.

Important Definitions

Ranked choice voting: A voting method where voters list candidates in order of preference, and all rankings count equally in determining winners. Eligible elector: Any U.S. citizen age eighteen or older who has registered to vote according to their state's rules and meets all other state voting requirements.

Effective Date

The first election for these new Senators must happen no later than the second regularly scheduled general election for federal office after this amendment is ratified (Sec. 2).

IA 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 23 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the Senate is made more representative by adding twelve Senators to be elected nationwide through ranked choice voting, and providing for twelve Electors at-large for President and Vice President, who shall cast their ballots for the respective winners of the national popular vote. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 31, 2023 Mr. CASTEN (for himself and Mr. BLUMENAUER) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the Senate is made more represent- ative by adding twelve Senators to be elected nationwide through ranked choice voting, and providing for twelve Electors at-large for President and Vice President, who shall cast their ballots for the respective winners of the national popular vote. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 1 of the United States of America in Congress assembled 2 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol- 3 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con- 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:13 Apr 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ23.IH HJ23 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HJ 23 IH stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 1 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 2 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 3 States: 4 ‘‘ARTICLE — 5 ‘‘SECTION 1. In addition to the Senators from each 6 of the several States, the Senate of the United States shall 7 be composed of twelve Senators at-large, who shall be 8 elected by the People of the United States for six years, 9 and each Senator at-large shall have one vote. Senators 10 at-large shall meet the same age and citizenship require- 11 ments as the Senators from each of the several States. 12 ‘‘SECTION 2. Senators at-large shall be elected using 13 a nationwide system of ranked choice voting, under which 14 each eligible elector may rank the candidates for office in 15 the order of the elector’s preference. Each elector’s rank- 16 ing shall hold equal weight in the determination of winning 17 candidates. Seats of the Senators at-large shall be divided 18 equally among the three Classes of Senate seats, so that 19 one-third may be chosen every second year. Except as pro- 20 vided in section four of this article, all candidates shall 21 appear on a single ballot, with the number of winning can- 22 didates being equal to the number of seats of Senators 23 at-large then up for election. The first election of Senators 24 at-large shall occur no later than the second regularly 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:13 Apr 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ23.IH HJ23 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HJ 23 IH scheduled general election for Federal office following the 1 date of the ratification of this article. 2 ‘‘SECTION 3. An eligible elector shall include any 3 United States citizen who is eighteen years of age or older; 4 who has registered to vote by the deadline of the citizen’s 5 State of residence; and who otherwise meets the eligibility 6 requirements, as set by the citizen’s State of residence, 7 for voting in a general election for Federal office. 8 ‘‘SECTION 4. Within thirty days of the seat of a Sen- 9 ator at-large becoming vacant, the President shall fill the 10 vacancy by appointing a Senator at-large of the same po- 11 litical party as the departing incumbent. If the seat is not 12 up for election at the next regularly scheduled general 13 election for Federal office, a special election shall be held 14 to determine who shall serve the remainder of the term. 15 Such special election shall coincide with the next regularly 16 scheduled general election for Federal office, and can- 17 didates for the seat shall appear on a ballot separate from 18 that of the other seats of Senators at-large then up for 19 election. 20 ‘‘SECTION 5. The election of Senators at-large shall 21 be administered by each of the several States. Each State 22 shall submit all ballots cast within its jurisdiction to such 23 Federal entity as Congress shall by law provide, which 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:13 Apr 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ23.IH HJ23 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HJ 23 IH shall collect and count the ballots and announce the win- 1 ners. 2 ‘‘SECTION 6. References in this article to the States 3 and the electors thereof shall apply in the same manner 4 to United States territories and the electors thereof and 5 to the District constituting the seat of Government of the 6 United States and the electors thereof. 7 ‘‘SECTION 7. In addition to the Electors for President 8 and Vice President appointed by each of the several 9 States, there shall be twelve Electors at-large, who shall 10 be appointed in such manner as Congress shall by law pro- 11 vide. Electors at-large shall hold the same powers and du- 12 ties of Electors for President and Vice President, except 13 that Electors at-large shall meet in the District consti- 14 tuting the seat of Government of the United States, where 15 they shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice- 16 presidential candidates having received the greatest num- 17 ber of votes cast by citizens of the United States. Electors 18 at-large shall be included in determining the whole number 19 of Electors appointed for the purposes of the twelfth arti- 20 cle of amendment. 21 ‘‘SECTION 8. Congress shall have power to enforce 22 this article by appropriate legislation, including by pro- 23 viding for the procedures under which the nationwide sys- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:13 Apr 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ23.IH HJ23 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •HJ 23 IH tem of ranked choice voting, required by section two, shall 1 be conducted.’’. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:13 Apr 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HJ23.IH HJ23 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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