Virginia joins a national effort to ensure only popular vote winners become president
Virginia’s entry into the National Popular Vote Compact moves the plan closer to effectively guaranteeing the presidency to the national vote winner, but major legal and political hurdles remain before it can actually take effect.
Apr 14, 2026
Sources
Summary
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation adding Virginia to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, bringing the compact to 18 states plus Washington, D.C., totaling 222 electoral votes.
The story frames the move as protecting democracy and emphasizes Article II state power, but it can underplay the central unresolved question: whether an interstate compact that effectively rewires presidential elections can operate without congressional consent and survive inevitable lawsuits.
This matters because if the compact ever reaches 270 electoral votes, it would change presidential campaign incentives and election legitimacy fights without a constitutional amendment.
Reality Check
Virginia joining the compact is a *step toward* a popular-vote-determines-the-winner system, but it does not change how presidents are elected unless and until the compact reaches 270 electoral votes.
If it ever hits 270, the biggest uncertainty won’t be arithmetic—it will be legitimacy and law: opponents are widely expected to challenge the compact (including on Compact Clause grounds), and courts would likely have to decide whether states can coordinate this kind of cross-state election rule change without Congress signing off. (nyujlpp.org)
Detail
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill on Monday, April 13, 2026, adding Virginia to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). (npr.org)
NPVIC member jurisdictions agree to award their presidential electors to the candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote (50 states + D.C.), but only once participating jurisdictions total at least 270 electoral votes. (vpm.org)
With Virginia included, the compact is enacted in 18 states plus D.C., totaling 222 electoral votes—48 short of activation. (npr.org)
Virginia’s adoption was enabled by Democratic control of the governorship and legislature following recent state elections (as described in the NPR text provided by the user).
Supporters argue the Constitution gives states broad authority to choose how to appoint electors (Article II), making a compact easier than a constitutional amendment (as described in the NPR text provided by the user).
Critics argue the compact could violate the Constitution’s Compact Clause by operating without congressional approval, and/or that it functionally replaces the Electoral College in a way the framers did not authorize (legal debate is ongoing and would likely be litigated if the compact nears/clears 270). (nyujlpp.org)
Public opinion is generally favorable to moving away from the Electoral College; a Pew survey in 2024 found about 63% prefer the national popular vote winner to become president, with large partisan differences (roughly 8 in 10 Democrats vs. about 46% of Republicans favoring change). (pewresearch.org)