Virginia has formally joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact after Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation this week, adding the state’s 13 electoral votes to the agreement. The measure, known as House Bill 965, passed the state legislature earlier this year and is set to take effect July 1.

The compact is an agreement among participating states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, rather than the outcome within their own state. It is designed to take effect only once jurisdictions totaling at least 270 electoral votes, the number required to win the presidency, have joined. With Virginia’s addition, the compact now accounts for 222 electoral votes across multiple states and the District of Columbia.

Supporters of the agreement argue it would ensure that the candidate receiving the most votes nationwide becomes president, pointing to past elections in which the Electoral College winner did not secure the popular vote. Critics, however, contend the compact could weaken the role of smaller states and shift campaign focus toward more densely populated regions.

The legislation passed the Virginia House of Delegates by a vote of 61–36 and cleared the state Senate 21–19, reflecting a largely partisan divide. Democratic lawmakers backed the measure, while Republican legislators opposed it.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was first adopted by Maryland in 2007 and has since expanded primarily through Democratic-led states. Participating jurisdictions include large states such as California and New York, along with several smaller states and Washington, D.C.

Legal questions surrounding the compact remain unresolved. Some critics argue it may require congressional approval under the Constitution’s Compact Clause, while others point to existing precedent affirming states’ authority over how their electors are allocated. The U.S. Supreme Court has not directly ruled on the compact’s legality, though related decisions have upheld state control over elector rules.

If additional states join and the 270-vote threshold is reached, the compact could significantly alter how presidential elections are decided without requiring a constitutional amendment. For now, the agreement remains inactive as efforts continue in other states to either adopt or oppose the measure.