Republicans look to manipulate Electoral College for Trump ahead of election

Summary

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is advocating for a winner-take-all electoral vote system in Nebraska, potentially benefiting Donald Trump. This move comes as the 2024 election is expected to be decided by a slim margin. Graham's efforts are seen as an attempt to change the rules late in the game, as Maine, which also splits its electoral votes, cannot respond in time due to a 90-day law implementation deadline.

Takeaways

• 🏢 Senator Lindsey Graham traveled to Nebraska to discuss changes to the electoral vote allocation.
• 🗳️ The majority of states use a 'winner-takes-all' system for electoral votes, but Maine and Nebraska split them.
• 🔄 In 2020, Donald Trump won most of Nebraska but Joe Biden still received one electoral vote.
• 🏆 The 2024 election is predicted to be very close, with single electoral votes potentially deciding the outcome.
• 📊 If a candidate holds Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, they can reach the required 270 electoral votes.
• 🚩 Senator Graham is advocating for Nebraska to adopt a 'winner-takes-all' system, which could benefit Donald Trump.
• 📅 Maine's electoral vote allocation cannot be changed now as it's past the 90-day deadline before the electoral vote certification.
• 🤝 Graham's actions are seen as an attempt to change the rules to favor Trump, without giving Democrats a chance to respond.
• 📞 In 2020, Graham was also involved in a call pressuring Georgia's Secretary of State to discard mail-in ballots.
• 🗣️ Lindsey Graham is accused of trying to manipulate elections rather than convincing people to vote for Trump.

Q & A

What is the 'winner take all' system in the context of electoral votes?

The 'winner take all' system refers to the method used by almost every state in the U.S. to allocate electoral votes, where the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that state's electoral votes.

Why did South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham visit Nebraska?

Senator Lindsey Graham visited Nebraska to drum up support to change the way the state allocates its electoral college votes, potentially shifting to a 'winner take all' system.

How does Maine and Nebraska differ from other states in terms of electoral vote allocation?

Maine and Nebraska are exceptions to the 'winner take all' system; they split their electoral votes by congressional district, allowing for a distribution that reflects the popular vote within each district.

What was the significance of the date mentioned in the script, 90 days before December 17?

The date is significant because it is the deadline for any changes to the electoral vote allocation method in Maine. A bill becomes law 90 days after it passes, and since the electoral votes are locked in on December 17, any changes must be made by this date.

What is the strategic reason behind changing Nebraska to a 'winner take all' state?

The strategic reason is to potentially give an edge to Donald Trump in the electoral college by ensuring that all of Nebraska's electoral votes would go to the Republican candidate.

Why is it too late for Maine to respond to changes in Nebraska's electoral vote allocation?

It is too late for Maine to respond because the deadline for changing electoral vote allocation methods has passed, and the state's electoral votes will be certified 90 days later.

What does the script suggest about Senator Lindsey Graham's actions in 2020?

The script suggests that Senator Lindsey Graham was previously involved in efforts to influence election outcomes, such as by calling the Georgia Secretary of State to discard mail-in ballots that could have given Trump an edge.

How does the script characterize Senator Lindsey Graham's current efforts?

The script characterizes Senator Lindsey Graham's efforts as attempts to change electoral vote allocation rules to benefit Trump, and to disenfranchise voters by making elections less democratic.

What is the implication if Nebraska becomes a 'winner take all' state for the 2024 election?

The implication is that it could significantly impact the electoral college vote count, potentially giving Trump an advantage by securing all of Nebraska's electoral votes.

What historical balance is mentioned in the script between Maine and Nebraska?

The script mentions a historical balance where Maine, a reliably blue state, and Nebraska, a reliably red state, have balanced each other out by each giving one electoral vote to the opposing party's candidate.

What is the script's view on the necessity of changing people's minds through说服 rather than changing election rules?

The script implies that instead of trying to convince people to vote for Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham is focusing on changing election rules, which the script views as an attempt to disenfranchise voters.