Awarding Electoral Votes by Congressional District

This system, currently used by Maine and Nebraska, awards as many Electoral College votes to a candidate as congressional districts won in the state. Two votes (corresponding to U.S. Senate seats) are awarded to the statewide popular vote winner.


The congressional district method will:
  • Intensify the problem of gerrymandering.

  • Make presidential elections even less competitive than under the present system. Candidates will end up vying for the attention of a fews districts, instead of a few states.

  • Reduce voter equality - the weight of a vote will depend not only on the state but also the district where it is cast.

  • Intensify partisan gamesmanship if pursued state by state in a piecemeal manner.

  • Done nationally, greatly increase the odds of the national popular vote winner losing.

Fuzzy Math: Wrong Way Reforms for Allocating Electoral College Votes evaluates the congressional district method on the basis of whether it promotes majority rule, makes elections more nationally competitive, reduces incentives for partisan machinations, and makes all votes count equally.
The following compilation of studies and media reports lays out all the arguments on the issue.


FAIRVOTE POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Fuzzy Math: Wrong Way Reforms for Allocating Electoral College Votes [PDF, 670K] evaluates the congressional district method on the basis of whether it promotes majority rule, makes elections more nationally competitive, reduces incentives for partisan machinations, and makes all votes count equally.


PUBLIC OPINION POLLS

According to a survey [PDF, 57K] by Field Research Corporation, less than half (47 percent) of registered voters in California support the 2008 ballot initiative to switch California to the congressional district model.


 
News about the Congressional District Method
August 29th 2007
If Presidential Campaigns Were Pennant Races--The Republican Scheme on California's Electoral Votes
California Progress Report

American Plan inventor Tom Gangale uses baseball to explain the problems with allocating votes by congressional district.

August 27th 2007
A simple reform: Count all votes
St. Petersburg Times

Special correspondent Martin Dyckman explains the partisan motivation in the recent move in California to award electoral votes by congressional district.

August 24th 2007
Deformed Reform
Slate Magazine

Maryland state senator Jamie Raskin explains the partisan gamesmanship behind the proposed Electoral College "reform" of allocating votes by congressional district.

August 22nd 2007
California Democrats push popular vote measure
Los Angeles Times

LA Times staff writer Dan Morain reports on the latest move towards NPV in California.

August 21st 2007
A critical reform in presidential elections
The Napa Valley Register

The author explains how the Electoral College allows a candidate to become president despite losing the nationwide popular vote. He argues that Congress has blocked past attempts to reform the system, but now National Popular Vote offers a way out.

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