Looking back, the Founding Fathers never chose the voting method used to select electors nor did they consider the winner-take-all method used by most states today. Rather, state legislatures have the sole constitutional authority to select a method for the awarding of Electoral College votes. Currently, two states, Maine (starting in 1972) and Nebraska (since 1996), reject winner-take-all and award electors based on the presidential nominee who wins the majority of votes in each congressional district.
Regarding that method of awarding electors, this week the conservative-leaning Washington Examiner published an op-ed headlined “No, AOC, the Electoral College isn’t ‘racist’ — but it could use one major reform.” The piece then advocated for the Maine/Nebraska method.
Sure, that method could work well for small-population states with few congressional districts, but it would be very dicey in larger states, adding another layer of conflict to already contentious congressional reapportionment battles every 10 years.
That is why I support the far simpler NPV. But before it is nationally enacted, Republicans must dispel the most popular falsehood, as voiced recently by Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
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