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Sen. Bill Nelson looks to end Electoral College

By Janet Zink, Times staff writer
In print: Saturday, June 14, 2008


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TAMPA — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, has introduced an election reform package that calls for abolishing the Electoral College and setting up regional, rotating presidential primaries.

"Let's come back to the essential fundamental principle, which is one person, one vote," Nelson said in his downtown Tampa office Friday. "A democracy like ours will work if you honor that."

The 2000 election, when George Bush won the presidency with the required electoral votes even though Al Gore won the popular vote, and the chaos of the 2008 presidential primaries underscored the need for reform, he said.

Last year, Florida and Michigan were punished for moving their presidential primary dates earlier than national party rules allow, and the votes in those states won't be fully counted at the nominating conventions.

Regional primaries, Nelson said, would eliminate the maneuvering by states to be among the first to hold the contests.

"If that continues what you'd have is states getting earlier and earlier and we'd have the first primary at Halloween," he said.

Even more controversial, Nelson said, is his proposal to get rid of the Electoral College through a constitutional amendment, which would require a 2/3 majority in Congress and approval of 37 state legislatures.

The need for a constitutional amendment, though, could be irrelevant if enough states agree to cast all their electoral votes for the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide. Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland have already agreed to do that, Nelson said.

"You see it's out there," he said. "It's a movement. People are saying, 'I'm tired of the archaic old way. I want a new way.' "

Rebecca Steele, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who discussed the matter with Nelson in his office, said the organization has backed eliminating the Electoral College since 1969.

She called it an "elitist system."

"Some type of reform is really necessary," she said.

Nelson's bill also would require states to allow absentee voting and use voting machines that produce a paper trail.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.



[Last modified: Jun 16, 2008 04:42 PM]



Comments on this article
by John Jun 16, 2008 4:42 PM
I'm so disgusted with Democratic politics - I think Sen. Nelson is right on point with everything he proposes: regional,rotating primaries, abolishing the electoral college, etc. I'm usually on the other end of ACLU issues, but not in this case.
by susan Jun 16, 2008 3:26 PM
Without the need for a constitutional amendment, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is 19% of the way to being enacted. see www.NationalPopularVote.com
by susan Jun 16, 2008 2:44 PM
Candidates concentrate their attention on a handful of "battleground" states. 88% of the money is focused on 9 closely divided battleground states, and 99% is concentrated in 16 states. 2/3rds of the states, are effectively disenfranchised.
by susan Jun 16, 2008 2:35 PM
The small states are the most disadvantaged of all under the current system of electing the President. Political clout comes from being a closely divided battleground state, not the two-vote bonus. RI, HI, and VT legislative chambers are supporters.
by tim Jun 16, 2008 11:51 AM
CAUTION: Senator Bill Nelson wants to screw with the US Constitution.
by Steve Jun 14, 2008 11:26 PM
Nelson is getting things done. He is weak on a number of issues, but he is a good man.
by Jean Jun 14, 2008 11:26 PM
Is it fair for the very liberal New York and California to always decide who will be president? The electoral college has worked for over 200 years. Leave it as it is.
by jimmy Jun 14, 2008 11:25 PM
Mr Middle of the road, Senator Bill Nelson, aligns himself with the ACLU. Could there be a bigger nincompoop?!
by Kim Jun 14, 2008 11:25 PM
Good start to true election reform. It would be great to see Florida lead the way.
by Zonk Jun 14, 2008 11:25 PM
The "essential fundamental principles" that we should be "coming back" to are the US Constitution. Those who call our Country a democracy show their ignorance of history. We are a republic "if we can keep it." : quote The Founding Fathers.
by Jim Jun 14, 2008 11:24 PM
A political move by a political panderer. We are bleeding at the pump, Billy boy. How about doing something to benefit your constituency and the nation for a change. Both you and Martinez are sickening.
by jim Jun 14, 2008 11:24 PM
The system works and it's fair. Nelson is playing politics--again. Gee, what's new?
by R Jun 14, 2008 11:24 PM
Dems are the worst election scammers, look at their own primary which Dean handed to Obama. So Nelson believes he knows more than the Founding Fathers! Typical elitist mentality of the Democrats! A bunch of LAWYERS claiming they rep. the Common Man.
by anita mitchell Jun 14, 2008 11:24 PM
Our founding fathers put the electoral college in our Constitution for a reason ...the reason is so that many of the smaller states would be on a fairer playing field and to avoid the big urban cities deciding who our President is
by anita mitchell Jun 14, 2008 11:23 PM
The ACLU supporting Senator Nelson's bill is no surprise.They continually undermine anything reasonable people believe about America and what has served us well.
by Theresa Jun 14, 2008 11:23 PM
Please!
by Jackie Jun 14, 2008 11:23 PM
It's about time!
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