NY Lawmakers Approve ‘National Popular Vote’ Bill

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers have approved a bill that would enter the state in an interstate agreement to award its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the majority of the popular vote.

The National Popular Vote agreement is triggered when 270 electoral votes are reached, enough to give the states who signed the compact a majority of the electoral votes.

So far, nine states and the District of Columbia have signed the measure, accounting for 136 electoral votes.

The bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Joseph Griffo and Democratic Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz would add New York's 29 electoral votes.

If signed, New York would be the second largest state, behind California — which has 55 electoral votes — to join the effort.