(Colorado) Electoral Votes in Question in November's Election

[kskiska]

(There's only one paragraph here)

Colorado voters will decide in November whether to allocate electoral votes in presidential elections according to the popular vote. If passed, Amendment 36 would scrap the current winner-take-all system. The proposal would make Colorado the first state to allocate electoral votes proportionately according to the popular vote, rather than giving a winner all of the state's electoral votes. If the proposal had been in place four years ago, Democrat Al Gore would have earned enough electoral votes to go to the White House.

http://www.kjct8.com/news/readnews.cfm?ID=3435

[Syrinx]

1. there's some talk of that here too

Alabama Dems have been talking up the idea, and since the Democrats control both houses it has a decent shot. But, unfortunately, it won't happen before this year's election.

[alittlelark]

2. I love that idea!!

I don't think the GOP will allow it the light of day.

[NMDemDist2]

3. it's up to the CO voters now IIRC and will count in this election n/t

[Ediacara]

4. FANTASTIC!

[Wabbajack]

5. If Cali adopoted something like this

Bush could gain like 20+ e votes or something

[quaoar]

6. I don't think it's such a good idea

Unless the entire country does it. And in that case, you wouldn't need the Electoral College at all.

It might even backfire on us this year. What if Kerry squeaks out a win in Colorado and has to share the electoral votes with Bush?

And what if California and New York decide in 2008 to do the same thing but Texas doesn't.

[NEDem]

7. Nebraska already splits

Complicated, but basically the winner of the statewide popular vote gets 2 of 5, the other 3 are based on the outcome of the 3 congressional races. Very clever and speaking for a solid red state its a great idea.

[Dover]

9. Proceed with caution......indeed. I have a sinking feeling that the

Nov. vote and the official electoral count in Dec. are going to be two different animals.....and I'm not convinced that it will be favorable for the Dems.
The electoral counts are just one more avenue for GOP corruption, beyond the Nov. 2 voting fraud options. A Plan "B" perhaps. And so I'm making note of any unusual changes prior to Nov.

Who is behind this change in Colorado, and could such a change wait until after this year? I wish I was more knowledgable about each state's electoral situation/laws and which has a repub. legislature so that I could see more clearly what moves they may be making to twist the electoral votes in their favor.

[Almost_there]

17. Wouldn't this destroy the idea of the electoral college?

This would make it a purely popular election, as opposed to the electoral system. I mean, it would sort of nullify the entire purpose of the electoral college, right?

Unless I'm missing something, I would avoid this. Suddenly, states like CA and NY which are oh so very blue might have some Red smattered around, and granted, states like OH, PA and MO would have some more blue, it just seems to become more of a populist vote than a representative vote.

I don't like the idea, even if it favors us this year. Just too easy to have things go awry.

~Almost

[bluestateguy]

8. All states need to do this

Otherwise, why should a Democrat bother to campaign in Texas, or a Republican in Alabama.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Exactly, this proposal would give Kerry votes out of Indiana

and will end the disenfranchisement of thousand of voters that consistently carry their counties into the Democratic column only to see the wealthier suburban counties carry the state for the GOP.

Ideally we should scrap the Electoral College altogether, but that requires a Constitutional Amendment. The Colorado proposal can be adopted by legislatures in other states. I'll take this half a loaf over no bread at all!

[DaveSZ]

11. I like this idea

Democracy is always a good thing, however this needs to apply to all states.

[fishwax]

12. Exactly!

One step closer to democracy.

Theoretically, if the resolution passes and Bush wins Fl and Oh, Kerry's proportional electoral votes in CO might prove to be the difference in the election. I wonder if Bush would then try to challenge the CO resolution in the courts.

(I think Kerry will win the EC vote fairly handily and it won't come to that, but I'm preparing myself just in case.)

[Jim__]

13. Both Maine and Nebraska do something like this

In Maine and Nebraska the 2 at-large electoral votes go to the winner of the statewide popular vote. In addition, the presidential candidate with the highest popular vote in each of the state's Congressional Districts wins 1 electoral vote from that particular district. Maine has been doing this since the 1972 presidential election. Nebraska is a newcomer to this "districting" system of allocating electoral votes to the presidential candidates in the November General Election- having had this in place only beginning with the 1996 election.
...more

[Endangered Specie]

20. Its not really proportional

As far as I know Maine and Nebraska have never split their votes, its still a winner take all system, except all but 2 are by districts, which are usually drawn partisanlly.

You can still have 40% popular vote and not get any Electoral votes from these states.

[osaMABUSh]

14. Bush supporters vote against it and Kerry for it - not good for JFK

I don't like this idea at all. Especially because it takes affect immediately in 2004. I think it is a lose-lose situation for Kerry.

Ask yourself who would support this splitting of EVs? Bush or Kerry supporters?

The general thinking is that Bush should win this state so his supporters would also vote against the proposal while Kerry supporters are hoping to win a few EVs so they vote for it.

SO if Bush has enough votes to carry the state then the initiative fails and Bush wins all CO's EVs. If by some miracle Kerry wins the state then the initiative fails and Bush gets some EVs instead of Kerry getting them all!

[paulk]

15. the more I think about this

the less I like it, and I will vote against it this November.

I like the idea, but I think it only makes sense if the whole nation does it. We need to get rid of the electoral college, but I don't think this is the way to do it.

[janx]

16. I'm for it!

Sounds great!

[osaMABUSh]

18. Bad idea: This thing is like an insurance policy for Bush

See my post #14. I had a typo and said fails but meant to say PASSES in the last paragraph (too late to edit that post, so I'm redoing it in this post). Here's the entire post #14 with the correct wording:

"I don't like this idea at all. Especially because it takes affect immediately in 2004. I think it is a lose-lose situation for Kerry.

Ask yourself who would support this splitting of EVs? Bush or Kerry supporters?

The general thinking is that Bush should win this state so his supporters would also vote against the proposal while Kerry supporters are hoping to win a few EVs so they vote for it.

SO if Bush has enough votes to carry the state then the initiative fails and Bush wins all CO's EVs. If by some miracle Kerry wins the state then the initiative PASSES and Bush gets some EVs instead of Kerry getting them all!

[IndianaGreen]

19. Winner-take-all is undemocratic

as is the Electoral College itself.

I will always vote for something that will make our electoral system more democratic, no matter what the party hacks say.

I would like to see a proposal similar to this one be put in place in Indiana.

[LisaL]

21. They couldn't use it in this election

Even if it passes, I don't think they could start using it in this election.
How could they?
It would be retro-active?
It would be for future elections only, I think.

[Endangered Specie]

23. Yes they could, it should be on the November 2 ballot.

It got enough signatures to be put on it.

Electoral votes arent cast until late December early Januaryish.

[Comicstripper]

22. nice idea

instant runoff voting is still the way to go, though.

[Endangered Specie]

24. If this works, we better hope ALL states pick it up...

Because, you know Repo's will first denounce it, then try to get it passed in blue states with red legislatures... Hopefully then, the Dems will then proceed to do the same thing in red states with blue legislatures... hopefully setting off a chain reaction in all the states, then, we would have a system as close to popular vote as possible without ridding of the EC. Even with this, bufallo in WY will still have more vote than a californian.

Unfortunately, something could go wrong in this process, so, its a definete gamble, but I think its worth it.