Lawmakers amended a bill Feb. 24 that would reinstate a winner-take-all system for allocating Nebraska\u2019s presidential electoral votes.<\/p>\n
Currently, the winner of Nebraska\u2019s statewide popular vote receives two Electoral College votes. The state\u2019s three congressional districts also award one electoral vote each based on the popular vote winner in each district. Maine is the only other state to use this system.<\/p>\n
LB10, introduced by Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy, would reinstate a winner-take-all system and award all five electoral votes to the winner of the state\u2019s popular vote.<\/p>\n
During a second day of general file debate, senators voted down a motion offered by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers to bracket the bill until June 5. Chambers said LB10 is a means to suppress the vote of the states\u2019 2nd Congressional District, which was won by President Barack Obama in 2008.<\/p>\n
Returning to a winner-take-all system would deprive Democrats in that district a meaningful voice in elections, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can mark a piece of paper, but you are voting for nobody,\u201d Chambers said. \u201cThat is not a vote\u2014if it has no meaning, that is not a vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
The motion failed on a vote of 12-30.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Tanya Cook offered an amendment, adopted 34-4, which removes an existing statutory requirement that a political party formulate and promulgate a platform at its state convention.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn adoption of [the amendment] merely removes the requirement from state law,\u201d she said, calling it an unnecessary state mandate.<\/p>\n
Sen. John Murante, chairperson of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, supported the amendment. He said the change would continue an effort begun by the Legislature last year to curtail state law when it imposes on the functioning of political parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think [the amendment] is consistent with that logic,\u201d Murante said.<\/p>\n
The Legislature adjourned for the day before taking any other action on the bill. A Chambers amendment is pending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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