PROVIDENCE — In a reversal from last year, state lawmakers have voted down a proposal aimed at changing the way that the president and vice president of the United States are elected.

On Thursday afternoon, members in the House defeated a measure that would have allowed Rhode Island to join in a compact with other states that would commit to having their delegates to the Electoral College vote for the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of whether that candidate won the state. The vote was 28 for and 45 against.

Last year, both the Senate and House backed such a bill, which was eventually vetoed by Governor Carcieri, who said the appropriate forum to change or eliminate the Electoral College would be by an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“The state legislature should focus on legislative matters that are germane to our state and leave federal matters to our congressional delegation,” Carcieri said last year.

–– Richard C. Dujardin and Katherine Gregg