Nebraska Legislature blocks bid to change Electoral College vote to 'winner-take-all' system

The Nebraska Legislature blocked an attempt to turn the state Electoral College votes to a "winner-take-all" system despite pressure from former President Donald Trump, Gov. Jim Pillen and other Republicans. 

State Sen. Julie Slama introduced the measure Wednesday as an amendment to LB1300, the "Adopt the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act." However, after the chair ruled that the amendment was not relevant to the legislation being considered, Slama only received eight of the 23 votes required to overrule the decision, according to local outlet WOWT. 

Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that do not have a winner-take-all policy. Nebraska has five electoral college votes, and during the 2020 election, Trump received four while President Joe Biden received one.

State Sen. Loren Lippincott, who introduced the original bill to alter the Electoral College, said he would attempt to reintroduce the bill before the end of the legislative session on April 18.

Pillen wrote in a statement Wednesday on X that he is a "strong supporter of Senator Lippincott's winner-take-all bill," which "would bring Nebraska into line with 48 of our fellow states, better reflect the founders' intent, and ensure our state speaks with one unified voice in presidential elections."

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