LWVNE supports current system of awarding state’s presidential elector votes

For more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters has been a fierce advocate to ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. It is in this tradition that we are compelled to raise our concerns about the impending special session of the Nebraska Legislature because of the concerning reports by local and national media regarding legislation that would transition Nebraska’s electoral vote structure to a “winner-take-all” system.

The League of Women Voters of Nebraska strongly opposes a “winner-take-all” process.

Since the initial rumblings about a potential special session, the sole topic has been property tax relief. We applaud the efforts of both the legislative and executive branches in seeking to find answers to real property tax concerns and hope they will find an equitable solution for all Nebraskans.

However, the persistent calls from out-of-state actors to also take up a measure that would substantially change how Nebraska holds its elections cannot be ignored. When this idea was raised during the regular session – also at the behest of outside interests – our legislators made it clear that this was not a conversation they, or a large portion of their constituents, were interested in. We would rather the precious taxpayer-funded legislative time be spent on issues that affect Nebraskans’ everyday lives like housing affordability, access to quality childcare and education, and clean drinking water.

It is in this context that we firmly reiterate our dedication to “promoting an open governmental system that is representative, accountable, and responsive….including (voting) methods that encourage voter participation and voter engagement, particularly those with minority opinions to participate, including under-represented communities” (page 51 of the LWVUS Impact on Issues). Not only does Congressional District 2 differ from the other two congressional districts in the state in partisan makeup, but also in racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and other demographic composition.

Nebraska’s current system of awarding 3 of its 5 presidential electoral votes to the popular vote winner in each of its congressional districts and 2 to the state’s popular vote winner – used since 1992 – has better reflected the will of our people and should continue to do so.

Continuing the work that the League has been engaged in since the 1920s, we insist that our legislators represent all the people of the state in both the work they take up and policies they pass.

The League of Women Voters of Nebraska encourages its members to reach out to their state senator and ask them not to entertain the brazen move fostered by political groups outside of our state to put the thumb on the scale, but rather to focus their time and attention during the special session on the issue at hand: property taxes.