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itshappening
12-20-2012, 11:01 PM
I'm glad the GOP are looking at fairer Electoral College votes in certain states and using the same system used in Nebraska and Maine where they get apportioned based on Congressional District.

This is something we and the Tea Party can work with the party on.

States like MI, PA, WI, VA, OH and FL where the GOP control the State governments are all potential targets for Electoral college reform.

According to the article below bills are being drawn up and it's likely to be pursued in 2013.

I think we should use our grassroots network to assist in these efforts.

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The GOP's Electoral College Scheme

Republicans alarmed at the apparent challenges they face in winning the White House are preparing an all-out assault on the Electoral College system in critical states, an initiative that would significantly ease the party's path to the Oval Office.

Senior Republicans say they will try to leverage their party's majorities in Democratic-leaning states in an effort to end the winner-take-all system of awarding electoral votes. Instead, bills that will be introduced in several Democratic states would award electoral votes on a proportional basis.

Already, two states -- Maine and Nebraska -- award an electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. The candidate who wins the most votes statewide takes the final two at-large electoral votes. Only once, when President Obama won a congressional district based in Omaha in 2008, has either of those states actually split their vote.

But if more reliably blue states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were to award their electoral votes proportionally, Republicans would be able to eat into what has become a deep Democratic advantage.

All three states have given the Democratic nominee their electoral votes in each of the last six presidential elections. Now, senior Republicans in Washington are overseeing legislation in all three states to end the winner-take-all system.

Obama won all three states in 2008, handing him 46 electoral votes because of the winner-take-all system. Had electoral votes been awarded by district, Republican nominee Mitt Romney would have cut into that lead. Final election results show that Romney won nine of Michigan's 14 districts, five of eight in Wisconsin, and at least 12 of 18 in Pennsylvania. Allocate the two statewide votes in each state to Obama and that means Romney would have emerged from those three Democratic states with 26 electoral votes, compared with just 19 for Obama (and one district where votes are still being counted).

Republicans are able to contemplate such a bold plan because of their electoral success in 2010, when the party won control of state legislative chambers and the governorships in all three states, giving them total control over the levers of state government.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/on-the-trail/the-gop-s-electoral-college-scheme-20121217

mad cow
12-20-2012, 11:49 PM
I like this idea,I hope it spreads.Many States are dominated by one or two urban areas every Presidential election leaving the bulk of the State voiceless.Any popular vote by County map of the last few elections shows this.It is also (USA) Constitutional by my reading of Article 2,Section 1.

itshappening
12-21-2012, 12:18 AM
Yes, it is constitutional as it is up to the states.

Nebraska and Maine already do it.

It will even things up a little bit for the GOP especially in PA, WI, WV, VA, FL, OH and MI

gte811i
12-21-2012, 06:57 AM
I'm glad the GOP are looking at fairer Electoral College votes in certain states and using the same system used in Nebraska and Maine where they get apportioned based on Congressional District.

This is something we and the Tea Party can work with the party on.

States like MI, PA, WI, VA, OH and FL where the GOP control the State governments are all potential targets for Electoral college reform.

According to the article below bills are being drawn up and it's likely to be pursued in 2013.

I think we should use our grassroots network to assist in these efforts.

-
The GOP's Electoral College Scheme

Republicans alarmed at the apparent challenges they face in winning the White House are preparing an all-out assault on the Electoral College system in critical states, an initiative that would significantly ease the party's path to the Oval Office.

Senior Republicans say they will try to leverage their party's majorities in Democratic-leaning states in an effort to end the winner-take-all system of awarding electoral votes. Instead, bills that will be introduced in several Democratic states would award electoral votes on a proportional basis.

Already, two states -- Maine and Nebraska -- award an electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. The candidate who wins the most votes statewide takes the final two at-large electoral votes. Only once, when President Obama won a congressional district based in Omaha in 2008, has either of those states actually split their vote.

But if more reliably blue states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were to award their electoral votes proportionally, Republicans would be able to eat into what has become a deep Democratic advantage.

All three states have given the Democratic nominee their electoral votes in each of the last six presidential elections. Now, senior Republicans in Washington are overseeing legislation in all three states to end the winner-take-all system.

Obama won all three states in 2008, handing him 46 electoral votes because of the winner-take-all system. Had electoral votes been awarded by district, Republican nominee Mitt Romney would have cut into that lead. Final election results show that Romney won nine of Michigan's 14 districts, five of eight in Wisconsin, and at least 12 of 18 in Pennsylvania. Allocate the two statewide votes in each state to Obama and that means Romney would have emerged from those three Democratic states with 26 electoral votes, compared with just 19 for Obama (and one district where votes are still being counted).

Republicans are able to contemplate such a bold plan because of their electoral success in 2010, when the party won control of state legislative chambers and the governorships in all three states, giving them total control over the levers of state government.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/on-the-trail/the-gop-s-electoral-college-scheme-20121217

This.

I firmly believe that one of the reasons why third parties can't survive in the US is because of the way the Electoral college currently functions, with the genesis being 1st-past-the-post/winner-take-all elections. This really needs to happen. I understand "presenting a clear victor" theory, but the EC was never designed to present a clear winner. It is absolutely ridiculous that someone can win ~54-45 and claim a "mandate" because the electoral college is a landslide. Take the EC by Congressional District and things would get a lot closer. This would really be a fantastic change.

Aratus
12-21-2012, 07:33 AM
is there any way for things to break in the direction of the Libertarian Party if districts cease to be winner take all?

itshappening
12-21-2012, 09:25 AM
This.

I firmly believe that one of the reasons why third parties can't survive in the US is because of the way the Electoral college currently functions, with the genesis being 1st-past-the-post/winner-take-all elections. This really needs to happen. I understand "presenting a clear victor" theory, but the EC was never designed to present a clear winner. It is absolutely ridiculous that someone can win ~54-45 and claim a "mandate" because the electoral college is a landslide. Take the EC by Congressional District and things would get a lot closer. This would really be a fantastic change.

Opponents will say if its all by DISTRICT then one side can gerrymander.. currently the gerrymander favors the GOP. Democrats used to have a grip on the House due to their gerrymandering efforts pre-1990's.

I think it's appropriate in PA, MI, and WI where the urban bulk vote is just handing the Democrats victory in the EC in those states time after time and therefore giving them lopsided victories in the electoral college.

belian78
12-21-2012, 09:36 AM
Yes, it is constitutional as it is up to the states.

Nebraska and Maine already do it.

It will even things up a little bit for the GOP especially in PA, WI, WV, VA, FL, OH and MI
Don't forget here in IL, it would be a huge help.

itshappening
12-21-2012, 10:11 AM
in IL it will never happen because we will never control the levers of power thanks to Crook County