Mickey Kaus’ discussion of the stragetic considerations of Kerry voters in Colorado reminded me of one of the things that troubles me most about the Colorado referendum on whether to alter the allocation of their electoral vote: by having the results go in effect this year the authors of the initiative have lead to a situation which many voters will vote not based on the general merits of the measure, but rather on how the measure will help or hurt the candidates running now. This strikes me as a poor way to make such a long-term decision.
Ultimately, I sill maintain that this is a terrible idea for Colorado, as it effectively reduces them to a 1 electoral vote state (less, by a factor of 3, than any other state). Why the voters of Colorado would want to essentially eviscerate their electoral influence is beyond me.
Well, as I’ve argued here, it all depends on what Coloradans expect about partisan trends in their state. If Colorado is trending GOP (or Dem) in the longer term, the amendment would actually improve their electoral college leverage. If the state is expected to remain closely split, you are of course correct. There are conflicting opinions about CO demographics, but at least some observers see CO as trending red.
Comment by Daniel Geffen — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 11:36 am
Yes, but even if the state was quite competitve, only one vote would be contested. Unless the election was extremely tight, that 1 vote would not be worth the expenditure needed to procure it.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 12:21 pm
I think of it as sacrificing their own state’s individual electoral influence to benefit their preferred party nationally. If they think the state is trending GOP, then in the future they’re looking at +9 GOP electoral college votes. But if they slip the amendment in before the GOP attains dominance, the likely division becomes +5 GOP, +4 DEM electoral college votes. Bad for Colorado’s influence on national politics, but good for the Democratic party.
Comment by Kyle Haight — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 12:37 pm
Why is Colorado voting on the European Community? I thought it was a union now. I guess this signals the further demise of unions.
This wouldn’t happen if John Kerry was president.
Comment by John Lemon — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 1:58 pm
Beltway Traffic Jam
The daily linkfest:
Steven Taylor examines yet another reason to deplore the Colorado Electoral College initiative.
Bill Hawkins has a Symposium On The Blogosphere & The Media.
John Little is working on “a major new addition” to Blogs of War….
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 2:02 pm
The demographics are trending in both directions simultaneously. To understand that (in terms of the macro trend) one would have to understand the differences between areas like Boulder, Denver, Aspen, et al and say, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Ft Collins, etc.
Last decade we saw many arrive here from Calfifornia, which turned the dem vote up a notch.
It was still trending red overall (statewide) until recently, but you must also understand that independents here outpoll both parties and right now- there’s dissatisfaction with the Iraq war.
Whatever the outcome of 04, I don’t see a lasting affect from it.
I think all things considered, the trend is still slightly towards red.
Comment by JS — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 3:47 pm
The “solution” being proposed appears to me to be certain people fighting the last war (election).
Comment by Chrees — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 7:02 pm
Voters who sacrifice local needs for their national party will be very disappointed in the end. Ask the African-Americans who keep voting for the D.
Comment by Remy Logan — Tuesday, October 12, 2024 @ 9:37 pm
I think its a bad idea, but it is a states rights issue and if a state decides to split their electoral vote, I believe that that is their right.
A large MINORITY party opinion in CO could be that it is a good idea as the electoral votes for their state would usually not go their way.
Overall I think the Electoral college system is good for states rights and influence. How much time, attention, and promises would Kerry be spending on Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, etc.. if all he had to do was get more popular votes from New York and California or other more populace states. I think most people that are pro-popular vote only overlook this factor.
Comment by Rodney Dill — Sunday, October 31, 2024 @ 10:12 am
Let’s hope for the best!
Comment by j.sykes — Tuesday, November 2, 2024 @ 9:09 pm