Nebraska may stop awarding Electoral Votes by Congressional District

[cinyc]

So reports the New York Times.  Republicans in the state's unicameral legislature are looking to award all electoral votes to the statewide winner.  That will leave Maine as the only state that theoretically splits its electoral votes by CD.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I don't see the point.  The only way the Democrats might pick up Nebraska 2 is if there is a Democratic runaway overall.  Conversely, the Republicans might pick up Maine 2 in a close election.  Partisan wise, there is nothing to be gained for the GOP by doing this, and potentially it could encourage a loss if this caused Maine to revert to WTA.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

I'd be very disappointed, I think the way Nebraska does it is the best way. 

[H. Ross Peron]

I don't mind as long as the GOP shuts up in the future about apportioning EVs by CD for states like Virginia or Pennsylvania.

[Devils30]

Dems should support this and do it in Maine once they control everything. The GOP wants to use this to rig PA MI VA WI. One electoral vote in Nebraska is minor although I have no clue why the GOP didn't gerrymander NE-2 more.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I'd be very disappointed, I think the way Nebraska does it is the best way.  

Maybe if we did redistricting by shortest-splitline it would be, but under the current districts, if every state awarded its electoral votes the way NE does, Romney would have won in 2012 by a 274-264 margin in the EC due to gerrymandering. Under what the GOP wants to do in PA, where is just lIke the NE system, except the 2 at large votes are awarded to whoever won the most districts, regardless of the state popular vote winner, it would be a 286-252 romney victory in the EC.

I personally think that awarding it based on proportion of the popular vote obtained is the best. (under this, CO's EV's would be divided 5-4 Obama in '12) But winner take all is 2nd best currently.

[Skill and Chance]

I think the concern, particularly after Ashford's win is that NE-02 is trending Dem quickly and Omaha could conceivably decide an election in the 2020's.  I don't personally think that concern is warranted, but EV-by-CD is much worse than EV-by-state, so better to abolish it and not tempt Obama state R majorities and future Walker/Christie/Bush state D majorities toward wickedness!

EV by statewide PV would be the clear second best way to allocate after NPV, but you need to let the 2 "Senator" EVs split to counteract small state bias as much as possible.

[pbrower2a]

The Nebraska Congressional districts at least make some sense. Those in Michigan were intended to ensure the dilution of Democratic votes in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing.

Republicans could get away with dividing Michigan's electoral vote only through an initiative and referendum that would lose.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It seems kind of silly to pass this law so your state gets more attention in elections, and then changing it after it gives the other side an EV. Also more odd they're getting around to doing it now instead of after 2008.

[Brittain33]

It seems kind of silly to pass this law so your state gets more attention in elections, and then changing it after it gives the other side an EV. Also more odd they're getting around to doing it now instead of after 2008.

Probably because they redistricted NE-2 in 2010 to be more Republican, but then Ashford won it anyway in 2014.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It won't matter either way.

[Goldwater]

...
I personally think that awarding it based on proportion of the popular vote obtained is the best. (under this, CO's EV's would be divided 5-4 Obama in '12) But winner take all is 2nd best currently.

I agree with this. I always thought that would be an interesting system.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I'm willing to trade a once in a while Democratic elector from Nebraska for hopefully killing the completely idiotic idea of awarding electoral votes by Congressional districts.

[Mr. Illini]

Yeah, this would be a good precedent to set to keep Michigan and Virginia Republicans from trying to pull this garbage.

[Vega]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

This would be nice, preferably with IRV, but it probably won't ever be passed.

[Badger]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

[muon2]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

This would be nice, preferably with IRV, but it probably won't ever be passed.

The only presidential election system that makes sense to me is one with a runoff - either top two or IRV. At least the EC has a runoff procedure.

As for NE and other states considering EV awards by CD, there should be a requirement of neutral redistricting laws in order to go in that direction.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

[krazen1211]

While they are doing that they should also redraw the 2nd district.

[Vega]

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.

This would be nice, preferably with IRV, but it probably won't ever be passed.

The only presidential election system that makes sense to me is one with a runoff - either top two or IRV. At least the EC has a runoff procedure.

As for NE and other states considering EV awards by CD, there should be a requirement of neutral redistricting laws in order to go in that direction.

It makes no sense for there to be a runoff here with anything other than top two, with a universal primary.

The American electoral system would need alot of other changes for a plain run-off to work (namely campaign finance reform).

[ElectionsGuy]

Good... I guess. Though it doesn't matter, the 2nd district (especially now) will usually vote Republican. But still:

The only electoral college system that makes sense to me is no electoral college system.