LINCOLN- A bill in the Nebraska Legislature, LB764, would strike language in existing state law that divides Nebraska’s electoral votes by congressional districts in presidential elections, effectively implementing a winner-take-all system used by nearly every other state. Currently, of Nebraska’s five electoral votes, one vote is designated to the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts, and two votes are awarded to the winner statewide. Maine is the only other state in the U.S. that uses this system.

Nebraskas votes have only been split twice since the system was implemented in 1991. In both elections, four electoral votes went to the Republican candidate (John McCain and Donald Trump), and one vote went to the Democrat (Barack Obama and Joe Biden). In every other presidential contest, all five votes still went to the Republican.

Republican lawmakers have tried — unsuccessfully — to change the state’s system since shortly after it was established. The bills introducer, Sen. Lippincott, argued that it puts Nebraska at a disadvantage to other states, and discourages presidential candidates from addressing statewide issues that matter to rural voters. Secretary of State Bob Evnen supported the bill citing gerrymandering as one of the effects of this system.

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