Michigan Lawmaker Poised To Resurrect Plan That Could Rig The Electoral College For Republicans

[demmiblue]

Source: Think Progress

Michigan’s legislative session is almost over, but an outgoing state lawmaker may still revive a voting bill that could rig the electoral college for Republicans.

Rep. Pete Lund (R) told Bridge Magazine that he plans to introduce a bill during the lame-duck session that would change the way electoral votes are counted. The new plan would make it more likely that a Republican could win the presidency, even though, as Bridge reports, “overall state voting patterns trend Democratic.” Twice before, Lund introduced bills that would achieve the Republican skew by changing how the electoral college works. Rather than having all 16 of the state’s electoral votes for president go to the candidate who gets the most state votes, as the system does now, the these proposals would give each congressional district one presidential vote, plus two extras for the winner.

The problem, as Bridge explains, is that “(b)ecause of the way the state’s congressional districts are drawn, Republicans dominate the vast majority of districts” despite state voting patterns that favor Democrats. In other words, the plan would magnify the impact of congressional gerrymandering designed to maximize Republican wins in Congress so that it would also shift the outcome of the presidential election.

This isn’t just a Michigan initiative. Over the past few years, several Republican lawmakers have coordinated behind a plan that would rig the Electoral College by shifting to plans like Michigan’s in several key blue states, while maintaining the current rules in red states.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/13/3592146/michigan-lawmaker-poised-to-resurrect-plan-that-could-rig-the-electoral-college-for-republicans/

[rickford66]

1. I think it could fail.

Congressional districts each have wildly different populations. Couldn't it be challenged on that fact? Each electoral vote should have close to the same number of people? If it holds up, goodbye democratic-republic, hello theocratic-oligarchy.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. It can't be challenged on the federal level

States are free to hand out their electoral votes however they choose.

[demmiblue]

6. It has failed in the past, but you never know.

Sure, Democrats could challenge the bill. However, the Republicans in Michigan control the House, the Senate and the Governorship.

As the article pointed out, his previous bill would have handed Romney 9 of the 16 electoral votes even when President Obama won the state by a huge margin (9.5%). Apparently, he has a new formula now that isn't as harsh, but it still a game-changer (perhaps he wanted to make it more appealing to the Republicans who actually thought the bill went to far).

I don't think it will pass, but it is a lame duck session... so .

[upaloopa]

2. No there was nothing to vote for last election.

There was something to vote against. But there are no do overs. No I won't STFU

[demmiblue]

7. Huh?

[Octafish]

3. They'll do it in Blue states at first. Drain the Dems.

Then, they'll work on keeping all the votes for the Red. Plug it for the Pukes.

And never see the hypocrisy because their brains were hard-wired for greed from an early age.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

4. Betting we'll see a few states try this n/t

[maxrandb]

9. Why not?

2/3rds of the electorate didn't give a shit enough to come out and vote. Repubs control a lot of state legislatures and governorships, why wouldn't they?

Hell, it's not like there was anything to vote for this year!!!

Oh, and don't worry about the "backlash" being so big it will sweep these T-bagging asshats out of office in 2016. Voting restrictions, gerrymandering, and now, how the Electoral College is distributed...are all on the table, and will more than take care of any backlash. Besides, I think President Obama may have signed a trade deal we don't particularly like.

All because some dumbass Democrats didn't get a fucking pony from President Obama.

Well, elections have consequences. Guess we'll just have to "get over it".

[napkinz]

8. kick

nt

[CK_John]

10. Just "moderate Mitt" getting one of his hometown base ready. Maybe a VP

slot for the New Kochs, the DeVos clan and their 22,000 square feet house.

[KamaAina]

11. More here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025815713