AUGUSTA (AP) – A bill to have Maine join other states in a national popular vote to elect future presidents of the United States is dead.

The House and Senate on Monday both voted against the bill, killing it for this year’s session.

The bill proposed an interstate compact among the states to elect the president by national popular vote. Under the compact, the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia would win.

It would have taken effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes.

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On the Net:

National Popular Vote: www.nationalpopularvote.com

AP-ES-04-14-08 1650EDT