The Nevada Senate passed a bill that would give the state’s Electoral College votes to the winner of the popular vote nationwide, CNN reported on Wednesday.
The bill passed 12-8, and if Gov. Steve Sisolak signs the measure into law, Nevada would become the latest state to join the National Popular Vote interstate compact, a deal among participating states to give their Electoral College votes to whoever won the popular vote nationwide, as opposed to the winner of the popular vote in their state.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have so far passed legislation to join the compact, which will only go into effect if the cumulative total of the states' electoral votes reaches the 270 needed for a majority.
The total is currently at 189, and Nevada’s six electoral votes would boost the number to 195.
There have only been five times where a presidential candidate has been elected without winning the popular vote since the Electoral College was created in 1787, including in the last election, when Donald Trump captured the Electoral College despite receiving nearly three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton, according to The Hill.
Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has brought the issue into the spotlight, saying during a CNN town hall in March that she backs abolishing the Electoral College.
"My view is that every vote matters, and the way we can make that happen is that we can have national voting, and that means get rid of the Electoral College - and every vote counts," she said.
Other Democratic candidates also have stated their opposition to the Electoral College.