Colorado House approves plan that would elect president by popular vote

The House has approved a bill that would change the way Colorado's presidential electoral votes are cast.

Under the measure approved Tuesday, Colorado's nine electoral votes would go to the candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bill now goes to the Senate.

The current system awards all of Colorado's electoral votes to the candidate who wins the statewide vote.

The law would take effect only when enacted by enough states to reach a majority of the electoral votes.

If the law goes into effect, all the electoral votes from the states that enacted the bill would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, said the change in counting votes would make every vote equal.

"I want Republicans in Denver, Democrats in Colorado Springs, and independent voters across Colorado to have a real voice in choosing their president," Kerr said.

Supporters said the current system encourages campaigns to ignore small states in favor of large winner-take-all prizes like Ohio and Florida.

Opponents said the bill would give more populous states a bigger role in determining the winner and could result in chaos if voters in Colorado tried to demand recounts in other states.