What's happened
Nebraska legislators overwhelmingly voted against changing the state's electoral system to a winner-take-all method, a move that could have benefited former President Donald Trump. The rejection of this change maintains Nebraska's current system of awarding electoral votes to both the statewide winner and winners of congressional districts.
Why it matters
The decision by Nebraska legislators to reject the change to a winner-take-all electoral system is significant as it preserves the state's unique method of distributing electoral votes. This decision could have implications for the 2024 election and highlights the ongoing debate over electoral systems in the US.
What the papers say
The Independent and New York Times provide detailed coverage of the Nebraska legislators' rejection of the proposed change to the state's electoral system. While The Independent focuses on the Republican-majority legislature's vote against the proposal, the New York Times delves into the pressure from former President Trump and Governor Jim Pillen to switch to a winner-take-all system.
How we got here
Nebraska currently awards two of its five electoral votes to the statewide winner and the remaining three to winners of each congressional district. The push to change to a winner-take-all system was backed by former President Trump and Governor Pillen, citing alignment with the founders' intent. The rejection of this change maintains Nebraska's unique electoral system.
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