Calif. Senate Approves Change To Electoral Votes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill designed to make California more relevant in presidential politics by giving the state's electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote.

Currently, most states including California have winner-take-all arrangements. All of their electoral votes go to the candidate who wins the majority of votes in that state.

The bill approved Thursday, AB459, would commit a majority of electors to the candidate who receives the most popular votes nationwide. That would guarantee the winner of the national popular vote becomes president.

It was approved by the Senate on a 23-15 vote.

It would take effect only if Brown signs it and it's approved by states with a total of 270 electoral votes. Seventy-seven electoral votes are lined up so far.