Colorado's Electoral College Reform

The amendment of the state constitution by referendum is a habit in the western US. In the state of Colorado, there is an initiative that could have far-reaching implications if passed. Should a majority of voters in the state approve, the state's electoral votes will not be awarded in a winner-take-all fashion but by proportion of the popular vote won, effective immediately. This change might put the state in play in November, and it would benefit the voters of the state because they would matter again.

Colorado is one of the red states. For those who have some sense of political symbols, America has things backwards -- red is the color of socialism, blue the color of Tory reaction (the US should consider using beige and tan to reflect its bland political divide, for which all residents are grateful). Colorado is not one of the more progressive states (Gary Hart was a long time ago), and so, it is a place that the candidates ignore. The GOP has it in the bag, so apart from changing planes at Denver International, there's no reason for either side to pay the state any attention.

But if the amendment passes, Colorado’s nine electoral votes will not all go to the GOP. The Democratic island of Denver-Boulder will amount to something. If it's only 33%, that still gives Mr. Kerry 3 electoral votes. That would have made Florida irrelevant last time. If it's 45%, that makes if 4 electoral votes. In other words, both parties would have an interest in compiling as large a vote as possible, and to do so, they would have to pay attention to the needs of the state -- something they can avoid currently.

Currently, only Maine and Nebraska have dropped winner-take-all voting, but the constitution of the US clearly says that the state may decide the manner of choosing electors. Republicans in California and New York may wish to pay attention here because their votes would matter again, as well as Democrats across the south.

The problem with the Colorado approach is that, by doing this alone, the state effectively is making this a Democrat versus Republican issue. As things stand, the GOP has no reason to go along with this. Were this done as a nationwide move, the issue then becomes one of democracy. Of course, outright abolition of the electoral college would fix the whole thing, but the less populous states have no reason to do that.


© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.


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