Nebraska legislators recently blocked a late effort to change the state’s Electoral College vote allocation system, despite pressure from former President Donald Trump. The measure failed in a procedural vote, with supporters facing hurdles as the legislative session nears its end. The current system allocates three of the state’s five electoral votes based on congressional district wins, putting the competitive 2nd District in play. The proposal to award all votes to the statewide winner remains in doubt.
State Sen. Loren Lippincott, who introduced the winner-take-all bill, plans to make one final attempt to bring the measure up for a vote before the session ends. The legislative proposal received renewed attention after Trump and Nebraska GOP Gov. Jim Pillen called for a winner-take-all system. The legislation had previously failed narrowly in 2016, but a recent push reignited interest in changing the state’s Electoral College allocation.
Senate Republicans have long sought a shift to a winner-take-all system, arguing that the current system diminishes the state’s political power. Proponents believe Nebraska’s influence is limited compared to states that award all Electoral College votes to the statewide winner. However, opponents of the bill criticized the effort to revive it, accusing Republicans of taking orders from Trump and conservative activists. Some lawmakers defended the existing setup, citing benefits of the current allocation method.
Nebraska is one of only two states that do not award all their Electoral College votes to the statewide winner. The state’s Omaha-area district has only voted for a candidate other than the statewide winner twice since adopting the current system in 1992. While the dispute revolves around just one Electoral College vote, excluding Biden from competing for the 2nd District vote could impact a close presidential race. In a scenario where both candidates reach 269 Electoral College votes, the decision would be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Despite a renewed push by Republicans to change the state’s Electoral College allocation, lawmakers have faced challenges in advancing the proposed winner-take-all system. The legislation failed in a procedural vote, raising doubts about its future ahead of the legislative session’s end. With limited support and time to overcome procedural hurdles, the fate of the proposed electoral change remains uncertain. Republicans may explore alternative options, such as a special legislative session, but questions remain about whether they can garner enough support to succeed.
