Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney has blocked legislation several times since 2009 that would allow Oregon to join the National Popular Vote Compact.

But state senators on Wednesday had a public committee hearing on legislation to join the compact, which would ensure the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote is elected.

The Senate Committee on Rules decided on a 4-1 vote to move Senate Bill 870 to the Senate floor with a recommendation to pass it; Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr., R-Grants Pass, was opposed. It's the first time the popular vote issue has come this far in the Senate, the legislative chamber where bills to join the compact have died in recent years.

Courtney said in an interview with the Statesman Journal that his stance on the issue hasn't changed. He believes Oregonians should decide the popular vote issue instead of lawmakers.

"This is one of those special moments that the Oregon electorate should be asked yea or nay," Courtney said.

The only difference this year is that Courtney, D-Salem, said he believes there are enough votes in the Senate for the measure to pass.

"I try to find out where the pulse is, where the votes are," Courtney said.

The bill has support among Democratic and Republican legislators in Oregon. In Baertschiger's case, caucus spokeswoman Tayleranne Gillespie said the senator believes in the electoral college and has "never supported the National Popular vote movement, and he will continue to be a 'no.'"

The compact won't take action until enough states have joined to reach 270 electoral votes, a majority of the nation's 538 electoral votes.

It would not abolish the electoral college entirely. Each member of the compact would put their electoral college votes toward the winner of the popular vote instead of the winner of the electoral college.

Related:Campaign to unseat Sen. Peter Courtney centers on National Popular Vote

So far, 189 electoral votes are committed from 14 states that have joined the compact, plus the District of Columbia. California and Washington have joined, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"Nationwide, we've seen a lot of activity for this bill," said Eileen Reavey, an Oregon-based consultant and lobbyist for National Popular Vote Inc.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill Wednesday for her state to join the compact. If Oregon's bill passes, the compact would have a total of 196 electoral votes.

The popular vote issue has support outside the Senate.

Danny Moran, spokesman for House Speaker Tina Kotek, said the speaker continues to support the legislation. Prior versions of the legislation have gone through the House and failed to move in the Senate.

Gov. Kate Brown said in a recent conference call with reporters that she supports moving Oregon into the compact.

"I believe very strongly that this is the right approach, that every person's vote needs to matter," Brown said.

Contact reporter Ben Botkin at bbotkin@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6687 or follow him on Twitter @BenBotkin1