The Oregon House has voted to join a national movement to elect the president via the popular vote, instead of using the Electoral College.
It's an agreement between states to award their Electoral College votes to whichever candidate wins the national popular vote. That means in some cases Oregon's seven electors could go to someone who didn't win the most votes in Oregon. The compact doesn't take effect unless enough states join to make up the majority of Electoral College votes. Supporters including Democratic Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer think the proposal would make Oregon more relevant in presidential elections.
Alissa Keny-Guyer: "Republican presidential candidates write Oregon off, and Democratic candidates take Oregon for granted. So we are relegated to being a spectator state."
This is the fourth time the Oregon House has voted to join the National Popular Vote Compact in less than a decade. Each time, Senate President Peter Courtney has stopped the measure from advancing in his chamber. This year, Courtney says he's willing to consider the measure, but only if it's ultimately approved by Oregon voters.
On the web:
HB 2927: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Measures/Overview/HB2927
National Popular Vote: http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/