Brian Schatz (D-HI)
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President of the United States.
A Democratic resolution with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college. It establishes that the President and Vice President will be directly elected by the people of the several States and the district constituting the seat of government. Each voter will cast a single vote for a joint pair of candidates for President and Vice President. The pair that receives the greatest number of votes will win the election. Congress is authorized to pass laws covering ties or the death or disqualification of candidates before a winner is chosen. The article will take effect one year after the first day of January following its ratification by three-fourths of the State legislatures.
Yes
- Scored +8
Does this make elections run better?
The bill abolishes the electoral college in favor of a direct popular vote system, ensuring that the President and Vice President are elected directly by the people.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The joint resolution expands congressional authority by empowering Congress to legislate for ties, deaths, or disqualifications of presidential candidates under the new direct election system.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Direct Election: Under Section 1 and Section 3, the President and Vice President will be elected directly by the people, and the pair with the greatest number of votes will win, which ensures that every citizen's vote counts equally toward the final outcome.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Lack of Textual Evidence: Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific provisions identified that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — The bill abolishes the electoral college in favor of a direct popular vote system, ensuring that the President and Vice President are elected directly by the people. Does this give the federal government more power? — The joint resolution expands congressional authority by empowering Congress to legislate for ties, deaths, or disqualifications of presidential candidates under the new direct election system.
- 9/29/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont