Nebraskans debate winner-take-all at hearing

Nebraskans packed a Capitol hearing room and spilled into the hallway Thursday to argue over whether the state should return to the winner-take-all system of Electoral College voting.

Beginning with the 1992 election, Nebraska has awarded two of its five Electoral College votes to the statewide winner of the presidential popular vote, and allocated the remaining three according to who wins each congressional district.

On Thursday, Sen. Loren Lippincott advocated for his bill (LB3) to return Nebraska to the winner take all system used by every other state except Maine. Lippincott said his proposal, along with institutions like the U.S. Senate, aims at ensuring states like Nebraska are not outgunned by more urban states.

“The bottom line on all of this is, winner-take-all, the Electoral College, the United States Senate, prevents pockets of power in populated areas, which is what we do not want. We want representation to be split out amongst all states,” he said.

Sen. John Cavanaugh challenged Lippincott.

“One of my fundamental problems with your jumping off point here is that we should be purposefully diluting the voice of people because they live in a populated area. That's right? Is that the premise of your argument that we shouldn't be packing power in population, right? So I guess my question (is), why should we dilute the vote of individuals in the interest of geography and land?” Cavanaugh asked.

“That's because there's a balance,” Lippincott replied.

Michael Tiedeman, speaking for the Nebraska Republican Party, supported Lippincott’s proposal, saying the current system attracts outside money to try and influence Nebraskans’ votes.

“Our state has been plagued by outside donation money in excess of $50 million every presidential cycle, and to a lesser amount during the other federal years," he said. "We have allowed Nebraska to be a political pawn, not by candidates, but by outside special interests who try to impact our elections and erode our values."

John Mark Rule testified at the hearing in support of the change, saying the current system dilutes Nebraska’s influence at the national level.

“Nebraska only has five electoral votes," he said. "When we divide those votes by even one, the ultimate outcome is a cancelation of one of the other votes, leaving Nebraska essentially with three electoral votes. Elections are always determined by the difference between the votes."

But Warren Phelps, Cheyenne County Republican chairman, favored keeping the current split system against the day when the states’ more eastern congressional districts might both tilt Democratic.

“What's going to happen is Lincoln and Omaha’s going to grow faster in the next 10-20 years," he said. "As rural Nebraska, there's going to be a lot more Democratic voters in the state at one time. I don't want to be drowned out by Democratic votes in the Third District. I want to keep our electoral vote in the Third District."

Another testifier, Melina Arroyo, said the current system gives minorities a voice.

“The district-based system gives weight to minority voter voices in each congressional district, preventing the marginalization of voters who might not align with the majority in this state. Every Nebraskan, regardless of their political leanings-- I'm an independent -- deserves to feel that their vote counts and that their concerns are addressed,” she said.

Another testifier, Ron Cunningham, opposed winner-take-all. Cunningham suggested the Electoral College voting system should be replaced by a national popular vote.

“If all 50 governors are selected by popular vote, why not our president? (The) majority governs. It would then be one person and one vote. Your vote would have equal value to a voter in Florida, in Michigan or California,” he said.

Jason Brown of Omaha, who with his wife, Doris Ruth Huebner, created a series of “Blue Dot” signs for Kamala Harris who won an electoral college vote in the Omaha area second congressional district last year, said the current system is a good reflection of Nebraska.

“Our current system very much honors the dominance of ‘red’ (Republicans) in Nebraska, but Nebraskans have shown a hint of blue (Democrats) in just three elections," Brown said. "Those blue Nebraskans are your friends. They are your family and they are your neighbors. So let's continue to show the world that, yes, we are a state with a wide swath of red, and yes, on occasion, we are a state with a little streak of blue."

Brown said that of the 45 electoral votes Nebraska has awarded in nine elections under the current system, 42 have gone to the Republican candidate.

The committee also heard testimony on an alternative proposal by Sen. Myron Dorn that would put the question of changing the system up to Nebraska voters in next year’s election. But Dorn said he prefers Lippincott’s bill, and would only pursue his if Lippincott’s does not succeed in this year’s session.

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