Nebraska's Republican governor is urging state lawmakers to adopt a 'winner-take-all' system for awarding Electoral College votes ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Governor Jim Pillen emphasized that this change would align Nebraska with the majority of states, uphold the founders' original intent, and ensure a unified voice in presidential elections.
Currently, Nebraska and Maine are the only states that allocate electoral votes by congressional district. Efforts to transition to a winner-take-all system have faced challenges in both states. Nebraska Republicans have been unable to secure this change since Barack Obama won one of the state's electoral votes in 2008 and again in 2020 when President Joe Biden claimed Nebraska's 2nd District electoral vote.
In Maine, one of the four electoral votes went to former President Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Maine Republicans are now opposing a proposal to join a multistate compact that would award all electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, potentially conflicting with Maine's popular vote.
The bill in Maine received final approval in the Senate but is contingent on other states' approval of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. In Nebraska, the unique one-chamber Legislature's requirement of 33 votes for contested bills poses a challenge for Republicans, who currently hold 32 seats. A Democrat switching party affiliation further complicates the situation.
Despite Governor Pillen's push for change, time constraints in the current legislative session make it unlikely for Nebraska lawmakers to advance the bill. Some lawmakers have acknowledged the lack of time for significant legislative action this year.
It remains to be seen if Nebraska lawmakers will attempt to pass the bill before the end of the session. The complexities of the electoral system and the political landscape in both Nebraska and Maine continue to shape the debate around how electoral votes are allocated in these states.
