By JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press and staff
COLUMBUS — Ohio’s 18 coveted electoral votes would be delivered to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote under a proposal making its way toward the state’s fall ballot.
The amendment, certified Monday, would require members of the powerful Electoral College to deliver their votes to whichever candidate wins the most votes nationally, rather than the most votes within Ohio.
The supporters made the unusual move of submitting two petitions, only one of which was certified by Attorney General David Yost’s office.
“Both summaries accurately restated the proposed amendment; but only the first is both fair and truthful,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “The second summary fails to note the most important piece of information for the voter: that the amendment, if adopted, could require Ohio’s representatives in the Electoral College to vote for the winner of the national presidential popular vote rather than for the winner of Ohio’s presidential popular vote.” -Ohio Attorney General David Yost
The popular vote winner has lost five times in U.S. history, twice since 2000. Republican victories in Ohio are considered to have tipped the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore and the 2016 election in favor of Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
A national movement is burgeoning to defy the Electoral College system and to honor the popular vote in presidential elections.