Former President Donald Trump and his allies are pushing for a change in Nebraska’s electoral college vote allocation system, urging lawmakers to consider a switch to a winner-take-all method. Currently, Nebraska splits its electoral votes between state winners and winners of congressional districts, but Trump and his supporters want to move the state to a system where all electoral votes go to the overall winner.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, and Trump himself have all expressed support for this proposed change, which has suddenly become a priority as pressure mounts from Trump’s allies. Nebraska is one of only two states that divides its electoral votes by congressional district, and the potential shift to a winner-take-all system has sparked debate among lawmakers.
With the legislative session in Nebraska coming to a close, there is limited time to push through new legislation. State Sen. Loren Lippincott, the sponsor of the proposal, has acknowledged that the necessary votes may not be there for the measure to pass. Republicans have previously attempted to repeal the current electoral vote allocation system without success, with a current proposal stuck in committee.
The Biden campaign has focused on winning Omaha and its one electoral vote, recognizing its potential significance in a close election. As lawmakers weigh the decision on whether to consider the winner-take-all measure, some are suggesting that a filibuster may be likely during discussions on the topic. It remains to be seen whether Nebraska will ultimately make a change to its electoral college vote allocation method, especially as the current legislative session draws to a close.
