Nebraska’s Unusual Electoral Vote System Change Appears Doomed
A late push to change Nebraska’s unusual electoral vote system appears doomed for now — despite the urging of former president Donald Trump and his allies, who saw an opportunity to gain an advantage in his rematch against President Biden.
The sponsor of the bill to change the system, state Sen. Loren Lippincott (R), told the Lincoln Journal Star on Friday that “it’s just procedurally impossible” to pass the proposal in the final days of the state’s legislative session.
His comments came after the leader of the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. John Arch (R), said he was restricting major amendments to bills on the floor, most likely taking away the last best path for Lippincott’s proposal.
“The time for adding bills to bills is over,” Arch told members Friday morning.
The state’s legislative session ends April 18, though members have only four meeting days scheduled after this weekend. While Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) could call a special session to consider the proposal, it’s not clear if the bill would have the votes to overcome a filibuster.
Nebraska is one of only two states that award electoral votes among statewide and congressional district winners, a system that allowed President Biden to pick off one electoral vote in an Omaha-area swing district in 2020. Lippincott’s bill would return Nebraska, a solidly red state, to a winner-take-all system where the statewide winner is entitled to all its electoral votes.
Lippincott’s legislation had been languishing until Tuesday when Trump and Pillen came out in support of it. Hours earlier, a prominent Trump ally, Charlie Kirk, asked his large social media following to pressure Pillen and state lawmakers to advance the legislation.
On Wednesday night, one of Lippincott’s GOP colleagues unsuccessfully sought to add his bill as an amendment to unrelated legislation. The amendment was ruled not germane, and a vote to override the ruling failed.
On Thursday, Lippincott was still holding out hope that his proposal could be tacked on to another bill, while Pillen sounded less optimistic.
“Conservative Nebraskans have to get in the game and have your voice be heard,” Pillen said at an unrelated news conference. “We can’t fix winner-take-all in 30 hours. It’s been a problem for 30 years. We have to win elections.”
Kirk, the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was planning to visit Omaha on Tuesday for a rally to urge passage of the proposal. Kirk said Friday on X that Pillen should call a special session, adding that Trump “needs this electoral vote in November.”
Democrats and some Republicans in Nebraska had balked at having the issue foisted upon them in the already busy final days of their session.
“This is about a tweet,” state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a Democrat who represents Omaha, said before the Wednesday vote. “We are allowing ourselves to be governed by a tweet, and that’s not how we should make policy.”
Analysis of the Implications
Nebraska’s unusual electoral vote system change has faced significant hurdles in its path towards implementation. The push to alter the system was driven by former President Donald Trump and his supporters, who believed that changing the system would provide them with an advantage in future elections. However, it seems that their efforts may be in vain, as the bill sponsor, State Sen. Loren Lippincott, has acknowledged the procedural impossibility of passing the proposal in the limited time available.
The leader of the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. John Arch, has further hindered the bill’s progress by restricting major amendments on the floor. With only a few meeting days left in the legislative session, the chances of the proposal gaining traction and overcoming a potential filibuster appear slim. While Governor Jim Pillen could call a special session, it remains uncertain if the bill will garner enough support to be successful.
Nebraska’s current electoral vote system, which awards votes among statewide and congressional district winners, allowed President Biden to secure an additional electoral vote in the swing district of Omaha in the 2020 election. Lippincott’s bill aims to revert Nebraska to a winner-take-all system, where the statewide winner receives all the electoral votes. This change would favor the Republican party in a predominantly conservative state like Nebraska.
The legislation gained momentum when Trump and Pillen expressed their support. Prominent Trump ally Charlie Kirk also mobilized his social media following to advocate for the bill’s advancement. However, attempts to introduce the bill as an amendment to unrelated legislation were unsuccessful, highlighting the challenges it faces.
Looking at the potential future trends related to this issue, it is crucial to consider the wider conversation around electoral systems and their impact on democratic processes. As debates surrounding voting rights and electoral integrity intensify across the United States, any proposed changes to electoral systems will undoubtedly receive heightened scrutiny.
Additionally, the role of social media in shaping public discourse and mobilizing support cannot be ignored. Charlie Kirk’s call to action on social media exemplifies the power of digital platforms in influencing political agendas and amplifying voices. This trend is likely to continue as social media’s reach and influence expand.
In conclusion, the current setback facing the proposed change to Nebraska’s electoral vote system brings into focus the complexities of implementing such reforms within limited timeframes and amidst political divisions. It also underscores the importance of considering broader trends and their implications for the democratic process. As discussions around electoral systems persist, stakeholders must engage in thoughtfully crafted debates that prioritize the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process.