NH bill would divide presidential electors by district: ‘We want voters to feel their vote counts’

New Hampshire Lawmakers Look to Divide Presidential Electors by Congressional District
In a move to give more power to the voters, New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a bill that would divide its presidential electors by congressional district, following in the footsteps of Maine and Nebraska. Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon and seven other Republicans, aims to award a presidential delegate to the winner of each of the state’s two congressional districts, with two more delegates going to the winner of the statewide popular vote.
Under the proposed legislation, “Congressional district presidential electors shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who received the highest number of votes in their respective congressional districts,” as stated in Senate Bill 11. The bill is set to receive its first committee hearing on Tuesday.
Senator Gannon emphasized the importance of ensuring that every vote counts in New Hampshire. “We want our voters to feel: ‘I go out and vote – my vote counts,'” he told Fox News Digital. The state is famously known for its “First-in-the-nation” primary contest and midnight canvassing in Dixville Notch.
However, the bill has faced criticism from state Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, who accused Republicans of trying to change the system to benefit themselves. Gannon refuted these claims, stating that the goal of the bill is to represent the will of the people and provide a fairer electoral process.
If enacted, the divided electors system would have impacted past presidential races in New Hampshire. In 2000, the divided electors would have favored Democrats, while in 2016, it would have awarded Donald Trump a lone elector despite Hillary Clinton winning the state.
The bill’s fate lies in the hands of the New Hampshire state legislature, where Republicans hold a supermajority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If passed, New Hampshire would become the third state to adopt a system of dividing presidential electors by congressional district, potentially changing the dynamics of future presidential elections in the state.
As the debate over Senate Bill 11 continues, the focus remains on ensuring that the voices of New Hampshire voters are heard and represented in the electoral process. The bill reflects a growing trend towards reforming the electoral system to better reflect the will of the people.