Washington is about to join an intriguing reform compact that could change how we elect our president.

Lawmakers have approved Senate Bill 5599 adding Washington to the list of states willing to cast its electoral votes for the ticket that wins the national popular vote. Currently, all 11 of Washington’s electoral votes are awarded winner-take-all to the ticket with the most votes in the state.

Quick civics reminder: Although the popular vote is closely watched, the presidency is actually waged in a 50-state hunt for electoral votes. In nearly every case, the state winner gets a clean sweep of that state’s electors, a number equal to to the state’s congressional delegation.  

The change wouldn’t occur until states with a collective 270 electoral votes (the minimum needed to win the White House) sign the compact. Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland and Hawaii are on board so far.    

Four times in American history, the presidency has been won in the Electoral College, but lost in the popular vote. The most recent was George W. Bush over Al Gore in 2000.

Governor Gregoire says she’ll sign the bill. Secretary of State Reed opposed the measure, saying Washington voters wouldn’t appreciate it if their electors were forced to vote for someone other than the Washington winner. Recent example: Kerry carried Washington in ’04, and Washington electors would have been required to go winner-take-all for Bush 43 that year.

Other times when Washington went for someone other than the national winner:  Benjamin Harrison in 1892, William Jennings Bryan in 1896, William McKinley in 2000, Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, Richard Nixon in 1960, Hubert Humphrey in 1968, Gerald Ford in 1976, and Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Interesting, huh?