COLUMBIA, April 2011 — The National Popular Vote bill (H4154) was introduced in the House by Representatives by Rep. Liston D. Barfield, Nelson L. Hardwick, William G. Herbkersman, William M. Hixon, Phillip D. Lowe, Dennis C. Moss, Steve Moss, Lewis E. Pinson, James Roland Smith, Thad T. Viers, and W. Brian White. Senators Michael T. Rose (R) and Dick Elliott (D) sponsored the bill (S860) in the Senate.

In 2007, the National Popular Vote bill was introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives by Representative Joseph H. Neal and Dr. Jimmy C. Bales, Curtis Brantley, Floyd Breeland, William "Bill" Clyburn, Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Cathy B. Harvin, Kenneth F. Hodges, Joseph H. Jefferson, Patsy G. Knight, David J. Mack III, Denny Woodall Neilson, Fletcher N. Smith, Jr., J. Seth Whipper, and Robert Q. Williams. (H 4201)

A survey of 800 South Carolina voters conducted on January 17–19, 2011 showed 72% overall support for the idea that the President of the United States should be the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states. Voters were asked "How do you think we should elect the President: Should it be the candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states, or the current Electoral College system?" By political affiliation, support for a national popular vote was 64% among Republicans, 81% among Democrats, and 68% among others. By gender, support was 81% among women and 59% among men. By age, support was 81% among 18-29 year olds, 71% among 30-45 year olds, 72% among 46-65 year olds, and 63% for those older than 65. By race, support was 68% among whites, 77% among African-Americans, and 74% among others (representing 4% of respondents). The survey was conducted by Public Policy Polling, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%.

Under the current system of electing the President, a candidate may win a majority of the Electoral College without having a majority of the nationwide popular vote. The National Popular Vote bill would reform the Electoral College by guaranteeing the Presidency to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The bill would enact the proposed interstate compact entitled the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." The compact would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the membership of the Electoral College (that is 270 of 538 electoral votes). Under the compact, all of the members of the Electoral College from all states belonging to the compact would be from the same political party as the winner of nationwide popular vote. Thus, the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia) will be guaranteed a majority of the Electoral College, and hence the Presidency. Because the compact guarantees a majority of the Electoral College to the winner of most popular votes nationwide, the compact has the additional benefit of eliminating the possibility that a presidential election might be thrown into the U.S. House of Representatives (with each state casting one vote).