Colorado is a very interesting state, politically. It is, like many states, red, with dark blue urban centers like Denver and Boulder, where the Univerity of Colorado is.
In 2018, the midterm elections changed the state's government from divided to completely controlled by Democrats. The last legislative session was a busy one as Democrats sought to capitalize on this new control and pass bills related to sexual education, health care, paid family leave, and regulations on energy and the environment. One of the most controversial moves, though, was a new law that joins Colorado to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC).
The NPVIC only takes effect if enough states join. There's a thresold of 270 electoral votes to win an election, so if states with 270 electoral votes join the compact, then all the states in the compact are committed to casting their electoral votes in favor of the winner of the national popular vote. Currently, 15 states and DC have joined the compact.
Many Colorado voters were not happy with the legislature's move to join the NPVIC. In response, Coloradans launched a petition drive to get a repeal measure added to the 2020 ballot. If successful, this would give Colorado voters the chance to decide if their state will continue to be a part of the traditional Electoral College as designed by America's founders, or if they prefer to see those electoral votes go to the winner of the popular vote instead.
The petition drive was successful. In fact, it made history. No petition drive in the state's history has ever collected as many signatures.
The Electoral College is something that voters of all parties are really fired up about, and for good reason. I had the chance to comment on the Electoral College in this TV interview below and share my perspective:
If you want to learn more about the Electoral College, take this quiz and read this legal brief.