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Recommendations to LWVUS Board about the National Popular Vote Compact Consensus

Two criteria were established for a successful consensus study. The requirement for participation by 1/3 of local Leagues was met with participation by 390 of 766 Leagues (51% of local Leagues). While the second criterion, requiring 2/3 of participating Leagues to achieve consensus on the use of the National Popular Vote NPV) Compact, was not achieved, the consensus elicited very strong support for the NPV Compact (about 50% of responding Leagues in favor). However the remaining 50% were split almost equally between not favoring the NPV Compact or not being able to reach consensus. Comments from many Leagues reflected: (1) concerns about bias in the questions (about half the Leagues complained about the questions or bias, primarily bias against the NPV Compact), (2) the misunderstanding that a choice had to be made between advocating for abolition of the electoral college OR supporting the NPV Compact, and (3) statements which seemed to contradict a given League's responses to the questions.

Based on an analysis of the responses to the questions and the comments offered, the NPV Compact Committee and Program Planning Committee recommend that the LWVUS continue to examine opportunities to achieve the goal of direct election of the president in addition to the unlikely opportunity of abolishing the Electoral College by constitutional amendment. Options could include examination of other plans similar to the NPV Compact, proposing a concurrence at Convention 2010 on the NPV Compact, or continued examination of the NPV Compact itself. The committees also discussed an option for an extension to the study to take a direct online survey of members who attended consensus meetings with a question up or down on the NPV Compact.

In considering the experience of this "quick" study, the committees recommend that:

1. If we do a "quick" study again, then we should carefully reconsider the process to achieve maximum member understanding of the issue(s).
2. Any consensus questions for any study be tested, before approval by the Board, for understandability, suitability and non-bias by League members who are not part of the study committee, the staff, or the Board.
3. A task force be formed to examine the study and consensus process.

In conclusion, the committees recommend a statement of our position based on the consensus reports from local Leagues: "The LWVUS affirms its support for the direct election of the president and abolition of the Electoral College, but the LWVUS has no position on the National Popular Vote Compact as currently proposed."