Nebraska Republicans prepare to ask voters to overhaul winner-take-all system – Washington Examiner
Republicans in nebraska are pushing for an overhaul of the state’s winner-take-all electoral system for presidential elections. Currently, Nebraska allocates its electoral votes based on congressional districts, allowing candidates to win electoral votes even when they loose the statewide vote. In the recent election, President Donald Trump received four out of five electoral votes, but former Vice President Kamala Harris secured one electoral vote by winning the 2nd congressional District.
A bill, LB3, has been introduced in the state legislature, which aims to restore a winner-take-all system where all electoral votes would go to the statewide winner. Governor jim Pillen supports the bill, emphasizing the need to fix the electoral vote allocation to unify the state’s representation in national elections. Previous attempts to change the electoral system have failed in the legislature due to a lack of support.
if the legislative path does not succeed, a seperate proposal would allow voters to decide on the change in a referendum during the 2026 election. Some lawmakers, including Republican Senator Merv Riepe, express caution, noting that the proposal might not reflect the interests of their districts. The legislature is in session until the end of May, as discussions about the electoral vote system continue.
Nebraska Republicans prepare to ask voters to overhaul winner-take-all system
Nebraska‘s electoral system in presidential contests has caught the ire of state Republicans who want it overhauled, but as efforts in the legislature continue to fail, they may go straight to the voters.
The Cornhusker State voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump at the statewide level last year, but because the state issues its electoral votes by congressional district, along with two at-large votes for the statewide vote, former Vice President Kamala Harris won one electoral vote. Harris’s one electoral vote victory came in the state’s 2nd Congressional District, where she defeated Trump, 51.3%-46.7%, while Trump won Nebraska’s four other electoral votes.
Nebraska is one of two states that award electoral votes based on congressional districts rather than all of the votes going to the winner of the statewide election. Lawmakers are seeking to again revert the system to a winner-take-all, through a bill introduced in the state’s legislature.
LB3, which was introduced at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE), would award the state’s five electoral votes to the winner of the statewide total.
“Our experiment with the current system of electoral vote allocation has divided Nebraska and diminished our voice in the most important national exercise in democracy that we undertake — electing a Commander-in-Chief. The time is now to fix this, well in advance of the next presidential election cycle. Restoring winner-take-all has my full support, and I look forward to signing it into law,” Pillen said when the bill was filed last month.
Lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to change the electoral system ahead of last year’s elections but failed to garner the required support to clear a filibuster in the chamber. While Republicans hold a supermajority in the chamber, one GOP lawmaker said he would not support the measure.
“It’s a poison pill for my district,” said Republican state Sen. Merv Riepe, according to the Associated Press.
If the proposal to pass the change through the legislature does not succeed, Republican state Sen. Myron Dorn offered another bill that would put the question of changing the system before the voters in the 2026 election.
Riepe has not said whether he would support the alternative proposal but told the outlet it would be “seen as a more democratic way of doing it.”
The Nebraska legislature, which has only one chamber, is scheduled to be in session through the end of May.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...