‘This is a dangerous game’: Lawmakers push for a winner-take-all system for Nebraska’s electoral votes

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Republican lawmakers are seeking a change to how Nebraska’s electoral votes are awarded.

Gov. Jim Pillen is pushing to make Nebraska a winner-take-all state.

Currently, Nebraska’s five electoral college votes are split between the state’s three congressional districts.

And Sen. Pete Ricketts said now is a good time to change that.

“We tried several times when I was governor,” he said, “I think now that there are 33 Republicans in the legislature that it’s a good opportunity to get this passed. ”

Switching to a winner-takes-all system could give former President Donald Trump an extra electoral vote.

The race could then come down to the electoral votes in Nebraska.

Steve Smith is the director of communications at Civic Nebraska. He said Republicans are trying to change the rules so they can quickly get ahead.

“It appears to be a transparent attempt to solidify the Nebraska electoral vote allocation so that regardless of what happens in the second congressional district, that electoral vote would most likely go to former President Trump,” he said.

He said the tradition of congressional voting should continue because it makes sense for Nebraska.

“Nebraska is a unique state. We have a very large urban population and an equally large rural population,” he said. “And those two things really create a diversity of thought in our state that’s important to reflect in different areas of the state.”

Smith said lawmakers are feeling the pressure from the higher-ups.

Trump posted on Truth Social earlier this year saying going to a winner-take-all system is ‘right’ for Nebraska.

Gov. Pillen said a special session “is in the works” so lawmakers can discuss the potential switch.

He wants 33 votes of support, and he’s only short a few.

Smith doesn’t think another special session is something Nebraskans want.

“I’m pretty sure Nebraskan’s appetite for another special session, another costly special session, might not be a part of their political calculus,” he said.

He said the efforts to switch over are motivated by short-term political gain.

“No one changes the rules of a football game right before you go out,” he said. “You don’t say, ‘we get 5 downs, you get 3’ to get a first down. ‘Our touchdowns count for 10, yours count for 2.’ You don’t do that before, especially with just weeks to go before voting starts. This is a dangerous game and we feel like Nebraskans won’t tolerate it.”

The clock is ticking for lawmakers as voters begin handing in early ballots on Oct 7.