Every State Should Do This...

[Gator]

I wish every state would push for proprtional electoral voting... I know, wishful thinking.

Colo. Weighs Proportional Electoral Votes Colo. Weighs Proportional Electoral Votes

DENVER - A plan to scrap the winner-take-all system of allocating electoral votes in Colorado is heading to the ballot in November.

If passed, Amendment 36 would make Colorado the first state to allocate electoral votes proportionately according to the popular vote, rather than giving a winner all of the state's electoral votes.

Secretary of State Donetta Davidson said Friday that supporters have gathered enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

If the proposal had been in place four years ago, Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) would have earned enough electoral votes to go to the White House.

Only two other states do not have winner-take-all systems of casting electoral college votes. Nebraska and Maine give two votes to the winner of each state, and remaining votes are cast to show who won each congressional district.

Republican Gov. Bill Owens and Republican State Party Chairman Ted Halaby have criticized the Colorado proposal, saying it would lessen the state's clout in presidential elections. They warn that candidates will ignore the state and its nine electoral votes if the measure passes.

Julie Brown, campaign director for the Make Your Vote Count effort that supports the measure, dismissed their concerns.

"It begs the question on which is more important — a two-hour presidential stop at a tarmac at Denver International Airport or true representation by the voters."

Katy Atkinson, a spokeswoman for the opposing Coloradans Against a Really Stupid Idea, promised to challenge the measure if it passes and it is applied in this year's presidential race.

The proposal's backers want it to take effect immediately, before Colorado's electoral votes are cast in December.

"They are ripe for a court challenge on this," Atkinson said. "If this is a close race like the one four years ago, we could be thrown into a situation where we are the Florida of 2004. We'd be the laughing stock of the country. All those Florida jokes would be applied to Colorado."

State Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, tried unsuccessfully in 2001 to change Colorado's electoral system. He said the new ballot initiative is a good idea.

"It will give voters the unique opportunity to reform an outdated electoral system that disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of Colorado voters," he said.

[Satchel]

I agree. It's pretty sad when only 16 states are in play and the candidates mostly only consider them when campaigning.

[psyon]

a step in the right direction...

[question]

That makes sense to me. It woudl be a more accurate representation of the people's opinion.

Originally Posted by Satchel

I agree. It's pretty sad when only 16 states are in play and the candidates mostly only consider them when campaigning.

However, some of those states would have received NO attention but for the "swing" factor.

[Satchel]

They would receive whatever attention they were due in the first place.

[Gator]

I just don't understand this concept that state's need to rely on the electoral voting system to attract a candidate's attention. It's absurb in my opinion.

The president's actions affect EVERYONE in the country, not one state's people more than another's. When a state votes for a governor, every vote cast in that state bears equal weight. The same concept should apply to a presidential election.

Originally Posted by Satchel

They would receive whatever attention they were due in the first place.

Are you suggesting that some states should be ignored and others doted upon?

[QUOTE=Gator]I just don't understand this concept that state's need to rely on the electoral voting system to attract a candidate's attention. It's absurb in my opinion.

The president's actions affect EVERYONE in the country, not one state's people more than another's. [QUOTE]


Surely the President represents all. But not all are equally served by a Presidential act.

[Gator]

Originally Posted by xiannaix

Surely the President represents all.

That's all that matters.

Originally Posted by Gator

That's all that matters.

In a perfect world maybe that would be all that matters. No one person can represent all people well.

[Gator]

Originally Posted by xiannaix

In a perfect world maybe that would be all that matters. No one person can represent all people well.

It wouldn't be a bad start to at least make sure the president's election represents the wishes of all the people he is supposed to represent.

Originally Posted by Gator

It wouldn't be a bad start to at least make sure the president's election represents the wishes of all the people he is supposed to represent.

do you mean his election would represent the wishes of those who voted for him?

[Gator]

The point is... if the president is supposed to equally represent all Americans, then each American's vote should carry the same weight. Why such a simple concept isn't practiced in America is beyond me.

[Satchel]

Originally Posted by xiannaix

Are you suggesting that some states should be ignored and others doted upon?

No, I am suggesting that people matter, not states.