Virginia bill would tie state’s electoral votes to national result, overriding state outcome if different. Proposal would award electoral votes based on nationwide popular vote, not Virginia’s individual results
Richmond, VA — A Virginia proposal to join a national voting compact would mean the state’s electoral votes could go to a presidential candidate who did not win Virginia, if that candidate wins the popular vote nationwide.
The legislation, known as HB965, would align Virginia with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among participating states to award electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes across the entire country.
How the change would impact Virginia voters
Under the proposal, Virginians would still vote in presidential elections as they do now. But if the compact takes effect, the state’s electoral votes would no longer automatically go to the candidate who wins Virginia.
Instead, if a different candidate wins the national popular vote, Virginia would be required to award its electoral votes to that candidate—even if a majority of Virginia voters chose someone else.
That shift is the central point of debate.
Supporters vs. critics
Supporters argue the system ensures the presidency reflects the will of the most voters nationwide, rather than outcomes determined state-by-state.
Critics, however, say it effectively overrides the preferences of Virginia voters in cases where the state result differs from the national outcome.
They argue that under such a system, a voter in Virginia could cast a ballot for one candidate, see that candidate win the state, and still have Virginia’s electoral votes awarded to the opposing candidate based on results elsewhere.
Not immediate, but conditional
The compact would only take effect if enough states join to total 270 electoral votes—the number required to decide a presidential election.
Until that threshold is met, Virginia would continue awarding its electoral votes based on its own statewide results.
Broader implications
If enacted and activated, the change would represent a fundamental shift in how presidential elections function for participating states—moving away from a state-by-state system toward a national vote outcome.
Ongoing status
The proposal remains part of a broader national effort, with multiple states considering or already adopting similar measures, though it has not yet taken effect.