Posted on 11/16/2016 5:30:00 PM PST by TigerClaws
Currently, under the Electoral College system, the winner of California is awarded 55 electoral votes. California prides itself on being a diverse state, culturally and politically. However, many elections California goes Democratic because the population in the major cities dwarfs other voters. Two other states in the U.S give their votes proportionally, Nebraska and Maine.
Politicians know how to play the game and campaign exclusively to voters in the most coveted "swing states". This leaves California, a state of 38 million people, left out of the process. In a current Public Policy Institute of California survey, they found that 45% of voters identified as a Democrat, 31% Republican, and 20% Independent. This means that even though the state goes blue every four years, the majority of registered voters are not Democrat.
A proportional system would encourage more California voters to show up and have their voice heard. If California truly prides itself on being diverse, it would embrace diverse points of views and political leanings. A proportional system would also allow for the possible emergence of a third party candidate. With 20% of voters Independent, a third party candidate could make a substantial impression by winning some Electoral Votes in the Presidential Election.
California is a vast, diverse state, it is the time our politics reflect that. It is time to bring voters in from the cold and welcome all points of view by amending our state Constitution and making California's Electoral votes proportional. This is a win for all voters and a win for the democratic process.
Politicians know how to play the game and campaign exclusively to voters in the most coveted "swing states". This leaves California, a state of 38 million people, left out of the process. In a current Public Policy Institute of California survey, they found that 45% of voters identified as a Democrat, 31% Republican, and 20% Independent. This means that even though the state goes blue every four years, the majority of registered voters are not Democrat.
A proportional system would encourage more California voters to show up and have their voice heard. If California truly prides itself on being diverse, it would embrace diverse points of views and political leanings. A proportional system would also allow for the possible emergence of a third party candidate. With 20% of voters Independent, a third party candidate could make a substantial impression by winning some Electoral Votes in the Presidential Election.
California is a vast, diverse state, it is the time our politics reflect that. It is time to bring voters in from the cold and welcome all points of view by amending our state Constitution and making California's Electoral votes proportional. This is a win for all voters and a win for the democratic process.
In my dreams. Trump would have gotten 18 electoral votes if this happened. Hillary would have gotten 33 instead of 55.
California is a commie Dem Rat stronghold and they would NEVER allow this to happen. It would have to be lead by referendum but the overwhelming liberal majority would shoot it down. If by some miracle it passed, the commie Rats would send it to the courts and the 9th Circus would deem it “unconstitutional”.
But, from your lips to God’s ears. It would be fantabulous if California’s electoral votes were split in relation to the popular vote. I have wanted this for years, but it will never happen. The commie rats who run the state know it will challenge their stranglehold. When you already own a state lock, stock, and barrel, why would they volunteer to give up that power.
yes 13
similar to the ‘Mundt plan’
EXcept for DC
The old boundaries of the District should be reestablished.
With no votes nationally. The founders did have this correct.
Won’t happen while Dems are in control but it’s a good idea to press them and accuse them of hypocrisy.
Honestly, I wish we would just cut the state in half above San Francisco.
One county, one vote.
It's probably not in a state's best interest to do this anyway. What would happen if Clinton got 51% of the popular vote in California and Trump got 49%? If the 55 electoral votes are awarded proportionally, then Clinton would get 28 and Trump would get 27. This means that California effectively would have only one electoral vote in the presidential election. Even in a major blowout where one candidate gets 65% and the other gets 35%, you're looking at a 36-19 split in the electoral vote ... which means California's electoral vote gets heavily diluted compared to other large states.
No. California would have 55, but the 49% crowd in California wouldn’t be completely disenfranchised.
I think we need to keep Dems on the defensive. They are all about one person/ one vote and don’t disenfranchise voters. So they can agree not to do that here and allow Californians the chance to be represented in the Electoral College proportional to their vote.
CA has 55 Electoral Votes and 53 Congressional Districts. So, roughly, the Frisco/Angeles Metro areas take 30 or so EVs, the Republicans get the other 25 and CA is no longer the powerhouse it is now.
Unfortunately, it ain't gonna happen in CA - or any other state with a Democratic majority.
I have argued for this for years.
The issue was on the ballot in June 20008 or 2012. Didn’t pass-waste of time even though it would of helped.
The Constitution doesn’t specify how the EV are divvied up, it leaves that up to the states.
I support this idea. If it had been in place nationwide for this election, Trump’s margin of victory would have been even higher.
1 EV per congressional district plus the two statewide per state.
If you do it by the way it was enumerated then DC gets no votes it is not a State
Whereupon, they will go one step further -- to a popular vote nationally, the ultimate expression of "one man, one vote".
In other words, that argument isn't convincing.
Go ahead. Make my day.
Whatever happened to that movement to divide California into smaller states?
Would love to see this in WA. I am going to forward this to Tim Eyman!!
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