ASK US ABOUT NPV — IT’S GAINING TRACTION
By Daniel Lishansky, NPV Chair
At the June 2023 League of Women Voters U.S. Convention in Las Vegas, guess what was adopted as one of the two leading issues for the National League? Yes, National Popular Vote! It was the talk of the convention, with workshops, presentations, and lots of chatter by officers, delegates and staff.
The National League is moving at full speed with National Popular Vote. Its plan is part of a multi-decade effort, the goal of which is election of the U.S. President and Vice President by popular vote.
This was not a minor feat. During the previous three years, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes work by LWVFL, especially by current Co-Presidents Cecile Scoon and Debbie Chandler. And Kathleen Crampton, from LWVPBC and Chair of Floridians for National Popular Vote, was instrumental in guiding everyone along. The result was even bigger than these champions imagined.
Our own chapter has been busy doing its part. Our goal is to build an army of supporters throughout Florida so that when our State Legislature is finally ready to do the inevitable, most of the work and explaining will have been done. Florida is one of only nine states that has not had a hearing on the National Popular Vote. We are working to change that!
To that end, on July 13, I made a live presentation to the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast in Melbourne. They were a great audience and many of the members are poised to introduce National Popular Vote in that part of Florida. On July 20, I made a hybrid Zoom presentation to the Democratic Club of Delray Beach. They were also excited about what they heard and ready to get involved. And I want to give special recognition to Tom St. Onge, vice chair of our district, for his invaluable efforts with all of the administrative work and staying focused on our strategies.
Kathleen Crampton and I will meet with State Rep. Mike Gottlieb (Broward) in mid-August to finalize his plans to again sponsor National Popular Vote in the House. And State Sen. Victor Torres (Orange) will again introduce the Senate bill. We are optimistic because in the 2022 session there were just three co-sponsors of these bills. In the 2023 session there were 10 co-sponsors. Our goal for the upcoming session is 30 co-sponsors.
In August, members of the Palm Beach County District will be setting up appointments to meet with every member of the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, hopefully before they get busy with local meetings and other legislative work prior to the 2024 session, which begins in January.
Our focus continues to be on making presentations to community and business groups, political clubs and even other PBC League committees. Anyone interested in a presentation for their group, inside or outside the League, please contact me, Danny Lishansky, at npv@lwvpbc.org
