PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Legislation that would give all four of the state's electoral votes to whoever won the popular vote nationwide in a presidential election, regardless of whether the majority of Rhode Islanders voted for that candidate, cleared the General Assembly Tuesday night, with a final a final vote in the Senate.
The so-called National Popular Vote measure now heads to Governor Chafee.
The change, part of a nationwide effort, is intended to bypass the Electoral College system, which encourages candidates to devote the vast majority of their energy to swing states, where the race is close. States such as Rhode Island, where the Democratic candidate typically wins, are ignored.
The proposal would not take effect until enough states - enough to represent a majority of all electoral votes - agree to the plan.