Some GOP-led states look at electoral vote changes

[Forever Sunshine]

If at first you don't succeed, try to change the rules.

A proposal under consideration in Virginia's Republican-led state Legislature would change how the commonwealth allocates its 13 electoral votes in the wake of Democratic President Barack Obama's re-election last November.

Obama won the popular vote in the crucial battleground state to claim all 13 electoral votes, even though GOP challenger Mitt Romney beat him in seven of the 11 congressional districts.

Under the proposed alternative system, electoral votes would get divvied up by congressional districts won. In addition, Virginia's two other electoral votes -- one for each U.S. Senate seat -- would go to the candidate who won the most congressional districts.

If the district-based system had been in effect in Virginia last year, Romney would have gotten nine electoral votes to four for Obama.

www.cnn.com/2013/01/25/politics/electoral-college/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[steff]

They need to change how they do things, not keep trying to change the rules of the game they lost. This is just one more end around attempt because they lost...they don't get to keep rewriting the rules until they win. We've already gone thru "redistricting".

[Forever Sunshine]

I think both are in desperate need of change. Everything in this world is being change or improved upon. Look how far technology has come. It would hurt to change a few rules along with both parties.

[Shirina]

If there is a legitimate need for change, sure. But this isn't one of those times.

What Virginia is considering is nothing more than a shady, underhanded way of making it easier for Republicans to get more electoral votes. It's just sleaze tactics, and Steff is right ... this is just a response to Virginia going to Obama this past election. The GOP just can't stand the fact that it lost fair and square.

[a]

It doesn't have support of the governor or all republicans, I tend to think that it will go nowhere in VA.

[a]

They better think twice about changing the state's electoral system. They just might start a movement to appoint electors proportionally with the state's entire popular vote, damn near making it a democracy.

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2013 8:44:35 GMT -5 Shirina said:

If there is a legitimate need for change, sure. But this isn't one of those times.

What Virginia is considering is nothing more than a shady, underhanded way of making it easier for Republicans to get more electoral votes. It's just sleaze tactics, and Steff is right ... this is just a response to Virginia going to Obama this past election. The GOP just can't stand the fact that it lost fair and square.

Oh yeah, you mean kind of like Al Gore couldn't stand the fact the he lost fair and square?

[a]

"...the individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States." (Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98, 104)

[weltschmerz]

Jan 29, 2013 8:02:59 GMT -5 fuzzems said:

Jan 26, 2013 8:44:35 GMT -5 Shirina said:

If there is a legitimate need for change, sure. But this isn't one of those times.

What Virginia is considering is nothing more than a shady, underhanded way of making it easier for Republicans to get more electoral votes. It's just sleaze tactics, and Steff is right ... this is just a response to Virginia going to Obama this past election. The GOP just can't stand the fact that it lost fair and square.

Oh yeah, you mean kind of like Al Gore couldn't stand the fact the he lost fair and square?

Did Al Gore run around afterwards, trying to change the rules?

[weltschmerz]

Speaking of "fair and square", does "hanging chads" ring a bell?

[a]

Jan 29, 2013 14:53:32 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Speaking of "fair and square", does "hanging chads" ring a bell?

Florida. If there was an actual right to vote in the U.S. Constitution every state wpould have the same procedure but....