Nebraska lawmakers face renewed pressure to back winner-take-all election system

kAmv@G] y:> !:==6? :?G:E65 4@?D6CG2E:G6 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD E@ =F?49 (65?6D52J 2E E96 8@G6C?@CVD >2?D:@?[ H96C6 #6AF3=:42? $6?] {:?5D6J vC292> @7 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 3642>6 E96 =2E6DE ?2E:@?2= A@=:E:42= 7:8FC6 E@ AFD9 7@C E96 492?86[ >F=E:A=6 =2H>2<6CD 2?5 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C vC292>VD @77:46 4@?7:C>65]k^Am

kAmw:D G:D:E 42>6 >@?E9D 27E6C 3@E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^ECF>A\A:==6?\?63C2D<2\8@G6C?@C\H:??6C\E2<6D\2==\6=64E:@?^2CE:4=60bg5ebdh2\7`b7\``66\g4dc\6b4_c45he2_h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!:==6? 2?5 %CF>A 42==65 :? pAC:= 7@C DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD E@ C6A=246 E96 DJDE6>k^2m E92E 92D 2==@H65 s6>@4C2ED E@ A:4< FA 2 D:?8=6 6=64E@C2= G@E6 :? }63C2D<2 EH:46 D:?46 =2H>2<6CD :>A=6>6?E65 E96 DJDE6> :? `hha]k^Am

kAm&?56C E96 DJDE6>[ H9:49 :D 2=D@ FD65 :? |2:?6[ EH@ @7 }63C2D<2VD 7:G6 6=64E@C2= G@E6D 2C6 2H2C565 E@ E96 AC6D:56?E:2= E:4<6E E92E H:?D E96 >@DE G@E6D DE2E6H:56 H9:=6 E96 @E96C E9C66 8@ E@ E96 H:??6C @7 6249 @7 E96 DE2E6’D E9C66 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

kAm%96 DJDE6> 92D >256 2 ?2E:@?2= 32EE=68C@F?5 @FE @7 }63C2D<2VD a?5 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E[ H9:49 :?4=F56D ~>292[ E96 DE2E6VD >@DE A@AF=@FD 4:EJ] y@6 q:56? 2?5 q2C24< ~32>2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\2?5\C68:@?2=^?63C2D<2^c\@FE\@7\d\:?\?63C2D<2D\4@?8C6DD:@?2=\56=682E:@?\G@E6\E@\46CE:7J\3:56?D\H:?^2CE:4=60gb55`a2h\he5h\d4`4\3`2h\6hfa4g`5f7_a]9E>=n>@56l?@H2AAQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH@? E96 5:DEC:4E :? a_a_ 2?5 a__g[ C6DA64E:G6=J[k^2m H9:=6 %CF>A H@? E96 5:DEC:4E :? a_`e 2?5 |:EE #@>?6J H@? :E :? a_`a]k^Am

kAm%96 =2E6DE AFD9 3J 4@?D6CG2E:G6D E@ C6A=246 E96 DJDE6> H:E9 E96 H:??6C\E2<6\2== >@56= FD65 :? cg @E96C DE2E6D 3682? :? pAC:=[ H96? 2 C:89E\H:?8 C25:@ D9@H 9@DE >256 2 D@4:2= >65:2 A@DE 9:89=:89E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^ECF>A\A:==6?\?63C2D<2\8@G6C?@C\H:??6C\E2<6D\2==\6=64E:@?^2CE:4=60bg5ebdh2\7`b7\``66\g4dc\6b4_c45he2_h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 A@E6?E:2= D46?2C:@ :? H9:49 }63C2D<2VD 564256D\@=5 6=64E:@? DJDE6> 4@F=5 4@DE %CF>Ak^2m E96 AC6D:56?4J :? }@G6>36C]k^Am

kAmx? 9:D G:D:E E9:D H66<[ vC292> 9:89=:89E65 E96 4=@D6 ?2EFC6 @7 }@G6>36CVD >2E49FA 36EH66? %CF>A 2?5 s6>@4C2E:4 ':46 !C6D:56?E z2>2=2 w2CC:D[ D2:5 DE2E6 $6?] {@C6? {:AA:?4@EE[ 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 7C@> r6?EC2= r:EJ H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@>292]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\2?5\C68:@?2=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^?63C2D<2\282:?\4@?D:56CD\492?86\E@\H:??6C\E2<6\2==\DJDE6>\7@C\AC6D:56?E:2=\C246D^2CE:4=60b_b_24d4\4bbh\``65\2bb4\53`6b5326b5`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm:?EC@5F465 2 3:== =2DE J62C E@ :>A=6>6?E E96 H:??6C\E2<6\2== DJDE6>k^2m :? }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAmQy:> !:==6?[ @FC 8@G6C?@C[ 5:5 :?G:E6 {:?5D6J vC292> E@ 4@>6 2?5 D965 =:89E @? E96 8C2G:EJ @7 E96 FA4@>:?8 6=64E:@?[Q {:AA:?4@EE D2:5 :? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H %9FCD52J[ 42==:?8 E96 >66E:?8 36EH66? =2H>2<6CD[ vC292> 2?5 E96 8@G6C?@C 2 QDE2EFD 3C:67:?8Q @? E96 DE2E6 @7 E96 C246 7@C E96 (9:E6 w@FD6]k^Am

kAmQw6 H2?E65 E@ 6?DFC6 E92E }63C2D<2 <?6H E92E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 6=64E@C2= G@E6 H2D :>A@CE2?E[Q {:AA:?4@EE D2:5]k^Am

kAm{:AA:?4@EE 2?5 $6?] %@> qC6H6C @7 v@C5@? 3@E9 D2:5 %9FCD52J E92E vC292>VD G:D:E 5:5 ?@E 2AA62C E@ 92G6 :?4C62D65 DFAA@CE 7@C H:??6C\E2<6\2== 2>@?8 =2H>2<6CD[ H9@ 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^?63C2D<2\6=64E:@?\H:??6C\E2<6D\2==\3:==\5:6D^2CE:4=606d_dghhe\7bd4\``66\gcgd\576h3b5`gd3c]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@?46565 :? pAC:= E92E :E H2D QAC@465FC2==J :>A@DD:3=6Q E@ >2<6 E96 =68:D=2E:@? =2Hk^2m :? E96 H2?:?8 52JD @7 E96 =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? 27E6C @?6 AC@465FC2= >@E:@? E92E 4@F=5 92G6 4=62C65 E96 H2J 7@C E96 492?86 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^?63C2D<2\=2H>2<6C\5632E6\H:??6C\E2<6\2==\6=64E:@?\DJDE6>^2CE:4=602ahd2aea\7`7c\``66\3bh4\33`fb_ch4g37]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH2D G@E65 5@H?k^2m]k^Am

kAmqFE AC6DDFC6 4@?E:?F6D E@ >@F?E]k^Am

kAmw@FCD 27E6C vC292>VD G:D:E[ }63C2D<2VD 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 56=682E:@? — >256 FA @7 7:G6 #6AF3=:42?D — A6??65 2 =6EE6C (65?6D52J E@ !:==6? 2?5 $6?] y@9? pC49 @7 {2 ':DE2[ E96 DA62<6C @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ FC8:?8 E96> E@ H@C< E@ :>A=6>6?E E96 H:??6C\E2<6\2== DJDE6>]k^Am

kAm{65 3J #6AF3=:42? #6A] |:<6 u=@@5 @7 }63C2D<2VD `DE r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E[ E96 56=682E:@? HC@E6 E92E :E Q:D A2DE E:>6 E92E }63C2D<2 ;@:? cg DE2E6D :? 6>3C24:?8 H:??6C\E2<6\2== :? AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D]Qk^Am

kAm!:==6?[ H9@D6 @77:46 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E %9FCD52J[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E =2DE H66< E92E 96 :D QH:==:?8 E@ 4@?G6?6 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 7@C 2 DA64:2= D6DD:@? E@ 7:I E9:D b_\J62C\@=5 AC@3=6> 367@C6 E96 a_ac 6=64E:@?Q — 3FE @?=J 27E6C 2 7:=:3FDE6C AC@@7 >2;@C:EJ @7 =2H>2<6CD AF3=:4=J 6?5@CD6 E96 492?86]k^Am

kAmxE H@F=5 E2<6 E96 DFAA@CE @7 bb @7 E96 ch =2H>2<6CD :? }63C2D<2VD 7@C>2==J ?@?A2CE:D2?[ D:?8=6\9@FD6 {68:D=2EFC6 7@C H:??6C\E2<6\2== =68:D=2E:@? E@ @G6C4@>6 2? :?6G:E23=6 7:=:3FDE6C]k^Am

k9am$6?2E@CD D2J G@E6D 2C6?VE E96C6k^9am

kAmQ#:89E ?@H[ H6VC6 2AAC@I:>2E6=J EH@ — >2J36 E9C66 — G@E6D D9@CE @7 E9@D6 bb G@E6D[Q {:AA:?4@EE D2:5] Qp?5 @FC >66E:?8 @? W(65?6D52JX 5:5 ?@E C62==J >@G6 E96 ?665=6]Qk^Am

kAmqC6H6C[ E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 492:C>2? @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6VD v@G6C?>6?E[ |:=:E2CJ 2?5 '6E6C2?D p772:CD r@>>:EE66 — H96C6 {:AA:?4@EEVD 3:== DE2==65 =2DE J62C — @776C65 2 D:>:=2C 2DD6DD>6?E %9FCD52J :? 2? :?E6CG:6H 2E E96 r2A:E@=]k^Am

kAmQx 2AAC64:2E6 E96 724E E92E WvC292>X 42>6 2== E96 H2J 96C6 x E9:?<[ 3FE x 5@?VE <?@H] x E9:?< :EVD 8@??2 36 2 92C5 AFD9[Q qC6H6C D2:5] Qx E9:?< E96 8@G6C?@C :D ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ 9:D 36DE E@ D92A6 E96 7:89E[ 3FE x ;FDE 762C E92E :EVD E@@ =2E6 :? E96 82>6 C:89E ?@H] x E9:?< H6VC6 8@??2 6?5 FA D9@CE :? E96 6?5]Qk^Am

kAmr@?D6CG2E:G6D 9@=5 bb @7 E96 ch D62ED :? E96 {68:D=2EFC6 — 2 7:=:3FDE6C\AC@@7 >2;@C:EJ H96? E96J G@E6 :? =@4<DE6A] qFE $6?] |:<6 |4s@??6== @7 ~>292[ H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^@>292\D6?\>:<6\>45@??6==\492?86D\A2CEJ\C68:DEC2E:@?\E@\C6AF3=:42?^2CE:4=606ghfgb65\2f``\dfh`\3edh\5gb7gcb_324b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDH:E4965 9:D A2CEJ C68:DEC2E:@? 7C@> s6>@4C2E E@ #6AF3=:42?k^2m :? pAC:=[ C6>2:?65 @AA@D65 E@ E96 H:??6C\E2<6\2== >@56= 6G6? 27E6C 492?8:?8 A2CE:6D]k^Am

kAm|4s@??6==VD @77:46 5:5 ?@E C6EFC? 2 A9@?6 42== D66<:?8 4@>>6?E %9FCD52J]k^Am

kAmqC6H6C D2:5 %9FCD52J E92E |4s@??6== Q:D 2 >2? @7 9:D H@C5 2?5 92D 2=H2JD 366?[Q 255:?8 E92E E96 ~>292 =2H>2<6C :D Q?@E @?6 @7 E96D6 8FJD E92EVD H:D9J\H2D9J]Qk^Am

kAm#6AF3=:42?D >2J 92G6 2 D9@CE H:?5@H E@ 492?86 9:D >:?5] {:AA:?4@EE D2:5 2 492?86 E@ E96 DE2E6VD G@E:?8 DJDE6> H@F=5 ?665 E@ E2<6 A=246 367@C6 }63C2D<2?D 368:? 42DE:?8 G@E6D :? }@G6>36CVD 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAmt2C=J G@E:?8 32==@ED H:== 36 >2:=65 @FE DE2CE:?8 $6AE] b_] q2==@ED H:== 36 D6?E E@ }63C2D<2?D 23C@25 2D 62C=J 2D E9:D H66<] p DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C E96 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6VD ~77:46[ E9@F89[ D2:5 @?=J E92E 2 492?86 E@ }63C2D<2VD G@E:?8 DJDE6> H@F=5 92G6 E@ E2<6 67764E 367@C6 }@G] d — t=64E:@? s2J]k^Am

kAmx7 !:==6? 42==65 2 DA64:2= D6DD:@? E@ E2<6 FA E96 =68:D=2E:@?[ :E H@F=5 7246 :?E6?D6 @AA@D:E:@? 7C@> s6>@4C2ED :? E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ H9@ D:8?2=65 A=2?D E@ <:== 2 3:A2CE:D2? r9C:DE>2D\EC66 A24<286 @7 =68:D=2E:@? :? pAC:= H96? 4@?D6CG2E:G6D >@G65 E@ 2EE249 2 H:??6C\E2<6\2== 2>6?5>6?E E@ E96 3:==]k^Am

kAm$6?] s2?:6==6 r@?C25 @7 {:?4@=?[ 2 4:G:= C:89ED 2EE@C?6J 2?5 E96 7@C>6C 9625 @7 E96 pr{& @7 }63C2D<2[ D2:5 %9FCD52J E92E E96 =2E6DE AFD9 7@C E96 492?86 7C@> @FE\@7\DE2E6 A2CE:D2? 24E@CD :D Q:?DF=E:?8Q — 2?5 2? :?5:42E:@? @7 E96 F?A@AF=2C:EJ @7 E96 v~!VD A=2E7@C>]k^Am

kAmr@?C25 42==65 E96 AFD9 Q2? 25>:DD:@? E92E E96J 5@?’E E9:?< E96:C 42?5:52E6 42? 62C? E96 G@E6D @7 }63C2D<2?D F?56C 4FCC6?E =2H H:E9 E96:C :562D 2?5 A6CD@?2= 2EEC:3FE6D D@ E96J 92G6 E@ 492?86 E96 CF=6D 2E E96 =2DE D64@?5 E@ D:=6?46 G@E6CD :? }63C2D<2 2?5 >2<6 @FC DJDE6> =6DD C6DA@?D:G6 2?5 =6DD C6AC6D6?E2E:G6]Qk^Am

k9am|@G6 4@F=5 3@@DE s6>@4C2EDk^9am

kAm%9@F89 2 492?86 E@ E96 DE2E6VD AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E@C2= DJDE6> H@F=5 F?5@F3E65=J 6?DFC6 E92E %CF>A[ H9@ H@? >@C6 E92? dgT @7 E96 G@E6 DE2E6H:56 :? a_a_[ H@F=5 328 2== 7:G6 @7 }63C2D<2VD 6=64E@C2= G@E6D[ E96 >@G6 >2J 24EF2==J 3@@DE s6>@4C2ED 5@H? E96 32==@E]k^Am

kAmx? 2 >6>@ D6?E E@ 7F?5:?8 2==:6D =2DE >@?E9[ E96 ~A6? s6>@4C24J !pr[ 324<65 3J AC@8C6DD:G6 5@?@CD[ AC65:4E65 E96 >@G6 H@F=5 AC@>AE %CF>AVD 42>A2:8? E@ 232?5@? ~>292 2=E@86E96C — 8:G:?8 2? :>>65:2E6 7F?5C2:D:?8 6586 E@ s6>@4C2E %@?J '2C82D :? 9:D 3:5 E@ F?D62E #6AF3=:42? #6A] s@? q24@? @7 }63C2D<2VD a?5 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E]k^Am

kAmr@?D6CG2E:G6D H@F=5 2=D@ C:D< QDEC@?8 6=64E@C2= 324<=2D9[Q E96 !pr H2C?65[ 4:E:?8 A@==:?8 E92E DF886DE65 >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 ~>292 G@E6CD DFCG6J65 :?5:42E65 E96J H@F=5 36 =6DD =:<6=J E@ G@E6 7@C 42?5:52E6D E96J @E96CH:D6 28C66 H:E9 :7 E96 42?5:52E6D DFAA@CE65 E96 492?86]k^Am

kAmx? E96 >6>@[ 2 4@AJ @7 H9:49 H2D @3E2:?65 3J E96 y@FC?2= $E2C[ E96 !pr 2=D@ AC65:4E65 E92E s6>@4C2ED :? E96 5:DEC:4E H@F=5 36 Q6?6C8:K65 2?5 >@E:G2E65Q E@ G@E6 7@C '2C82D :7 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD DEC:A E96 5:DEC:4E @7 :ED 6=64E@C2= G@E6 367@C6 E96 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 !pr 2D<65 7F?5C2:D:?8 2==:6D E@ Q4@?D:56C C6D6CG:?8 C6D@FC46D E@ E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ D9@F=5 :E 2C:D6[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 >6>@]k^Am