Presidential Election Reform Act

Presidential Election Reform Act

The Presidential Election Reform Act was a proposed initiative in the state of California. The initiative’s sponsors sought to change the way California’s presidential electoral votes are distributed. Currently, as in most states, California’s votes in the electoral college are distributed in a winner-take-all manner. Under Initiative No. 07-0032, the state’s electoral votes would instead have been awarded by Congressional district.

About Presidential Election Reform Act in brief

Summary Presidential Election Reform ActThe Presidential Election Reform Act was a proposed initiative in the state of California to alter the way the state’s electoral votes for president are distributed among presidential candidates. The initiative’s sponsors sought to change the way California’s presidential electoral votes are distributed. Currently, as in most states, California’s votes in the electoral college are distributed in a winner-take-all manner. Under Initiative No. 07-0032, the state’s electoral votes would instead have been awarded by Congressional district; the candidate who won a Congressional district’s popular vote for president would have won an electoral vote representing that district.

As of 2008, Nebraska and Maine are the only states using the District Method of distributing electoral votes. The 2008 presidential elections was the first time Nebraska did not award all its electoral votes to a single candidate since switching to the District method. Donald Trump carried the second Congressional District of Maine in the 2016 election, to date the only time Maine has split its electoral vote. Some commentators argued that the initiative violated Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution.