GOP electoral college reform

[jtowne-swim]

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/01/25/gops-...l-in-virginia/

I think in principal this is close to the original way it was intended to be but my issues are that the GOP only wants it in certian states. It is good for them in Virginia, Ohio, Florida, WIsconson but not Texas, Nebraska (where they have it already), Louisiana etc.

I also think it is short sighted of them. Had this been in place in 2000 in those states we would have elected Gore. It seems that even though a bill has been filed in Virginia it has little chance of becoming law since McDonell doesn't like it. I do disagree with MSNBC that it will violate the voters right act of 1965.

[johnpolitics]

In my opinion it is legal to do (Maine and Nebraska) but risky. No one will campaign in VA because the districts are so badly gerrymandered that it would be a waste of time. Also when candidates campaign in states it bring REVENUE into the state. Think of all the money VA and DC TV station made in 2012 with political ads.
Also as demographics change by 2020 Texas could elect a democratic Governor and then all bet are off.

[ms maggie]

Maine and Nebraska have never been swing states. There is also an issue of this being a violation of the civil rights voting act. The effect is to over value rural, largely white votes at the expense of black/Hispanic votes.

Another swell move by the GOP re appealing to non white voters.

[CajunRaven]

All states should do this so we don't have a hand full of states controlling national elections. Make em worry about all states.

[pickles]

All states should do this so we don't have a hand full of states controlling national elections. Make em worry about all states.

I agree.

However, that clearly isn't the intent of the GOP here is it?

[ms maggie]

All states should do this so we don't have a hand full of states controlling national elections. Make em worry about all states.

So you're ok with the winner of the popular vote in a state losing in terms of electoral votes allocation? And the fact this would disproportionately devalue votes in urban areas?

You want to go with the make em worry about all states, you want to go popular vote period.

[veritas]

If we're going to make the EC votes proportional, then we may as well scrap it and just go to popular vote. Proportional EC vote is not the system the founders set up.

[CajunRaven]

I agree.

However, that clearly isn't the intent of the GOP here is it?

Both sides try to rig the game and gerrymander districts. Neither side is interested in fair elections, only serving their own self interest.

But you knew that.

[soulflower]

I'd rather scrap the EC than go with a system that makes it more similar to how Congressional elections are setup...

[pmore108]

Both parties gerrymander and try to rig districts to their advantage. I believe in getting rid of the EC and going to the popular vote is the way to go. Trust me if the democrats were doing this, it wouldn't be for noble reasons either.

[pickles]

Both sides try to rig the game and gerrymander districts. Neither side is interested in fair elections, only serving their own self interest.

But you knew that.

This is far more serious than gerrymeandering districts imo. That's a timehonored tradition, and since both sides engage in it, it essentially evens out.t

This is a bold faced attempt to "count" some votes more than others in a cynical attempt to steal a National election.

[pickles]

Both parties gerrymander and try to rig districts to their advantage. I believe in getting rid of the EC and going to the popular vote is the way to go. Trust me if the democrats were doing this, it wouldn't be for noble reasons either.

Probably not.

But they're not.

So let's focus on the FACT that one side is actively attempting to thwart the Democratic process.

[pmore108]

Probably not.

But they're not.

So let's focus on the FACT that one side is actively attempting to thwart the Democratic process.

I get what you're staying and staying on topic is important. FWIW, I agree that some are trying to 'rig' the system with this particular attempt. It should be noted however, that many repubs have spoken against this (at least according to the morning news I watched this morning before work, channel 11 by the way).

In my opinion it does no good to simply point fingers at this attempted injustice and ignore any of the gerrymandering that occurrs in other areas by both parties. That is what I was pointing out. MD successfully passed it's gerrymandering law this last time. Texas passed theirs as well. Those two states differ politically but it is equally corrupt in my opinion. It does us no good as citizens to allow this to happen when it benefits 'our side' and scream and yell when it benefits 'their side'. As involved, concerned voters (if that's what we consider ourselves) we should be against gerrymandering and rigging period.

[jtowne-swim]

Maine and Nebraska have never been swing states. There is also an issue of this being a violation of the civil rights voting act. The effect is to over value rural, largely white votes at the expense of black/Hispanic votes.

Another swell move by the GOP re appealing to non white voters.

That only happens when gerrymandering occurs if all states did this more people would care about congressional redistricting.

[jtowne-swim]

So you're ok with the winner of the popular vote in a state losing in terms of electoral votes allocation? And the fact this would disproportionately devalue votes in urban areas?

You want to go with the make em worry about all states, you want to go popular vote period.

States uld allocate the EV's proportional to the popular vote in the state regardless of district.

[jtowne-swim]

I get what you're staying and staying on topic is important. FWIW, I agree that some are trying to 'rig' the system with this particular attempt. It should be noted however, that many repubs have spoken against this (at least according to the morning news I watched this morning before work, channel 11 by the way).

In my opinion it does no good to simply point fingers at this attempted injustice and ignore any of the gerrymandering that occurrs in other areas by both parties. That is what I was pointing out. MD successfully passed it's gerrymandering law this last time. Texas passed theirs as well. Those two states differ politically but it is equally corrupt in my opinion. It does us no good as citizens to allow this to happen when it benefits 'our side' and scream and yell when it benefits 'their side'. As involved, concerned voters (if that's what we consider ourselves) we should be against gerrymandering and rigging period.

True many GOP virginians are against this but The national GOP chair is for this.

[kudzu]

we may as well scrap it and just go to popular vote.

Hear, hear !

The electoral college is a freakin' dinosaur.