Colorado Voter Initiative Could Decide U.S. Election

[wicket]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&ncid=696&e=3&u=/nm/20041025/pl_nm/campaign_colorado_electoral_dc

Colorado voters will decide on Nov. 2 whether the state will change the way it allots its nine Electoral College votes and the change could decide whether George W. Bush or John Kerry wins the presidency.

Colorado, like almost all other states, now gives all its electoral votes to whoever wins the most votes within the state. Under the proposed change, each candidate would get a share of the nine electoral votes based on his share of the popular vote.

If the measure is approved, the change would apply to the Nov. 2 election.

The measure arose because in the U.S. election system one candidate can win the most popular votes but come up short in the Electoral College tally that actually decides the presidency.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Since Kerry is trending blue in Colorado

55% is voting no on 36 according to the latest polls done last week in CO.

Hawkeye-X

[Unstuck In Time]

2. My fear is that it won't actually decide anything, because it's all but...

... GUARANTEED to head directly to the courts. Another reason to hope that JK's electoral margin is substantial, so that the question of who gets how many Colorado votes is moot.

And seeing our guy so pumped up in Philly today -- with the Big Dawg at his side, no less! -- has me feeling pretty good about a DECISIVE Kerry win! :)

[CO Liberal]

5. It's Already In The Courts

A businessman filed suit last week to set aside the vote for Amendment 36 on constitutional grounds. He says that the Colorado Constitution required that the Legislature determine how electors are allocated - it does not give that power to the people.

We shall see what happens...

[fshrink]

3. Duh...

Welcome to democracy and its rule of proportionality.

[napi21]

4. I doesn't seem to be a problem. All I hear is that it will fail.

I admit, I haven't heard today, but all through yesterday, every poll has passing this is very much against it.

[sundancekid]

6. also, isn't it curious that it would be effective immediately?almost retro

[BigBigBear]

7. Sorry

My prediction is that 36 will not pass, and Bush will carry Colorado. At least Salazar looks like he'll take Pete "Car Salesman Smile" Coors, though, for the Nighthorse-Campbell Senate seat.

[George_S]

8. Who pushed this? Dems or Reacts?

Note: Reacts = reactionaries.

[paulk]

10. the idea was originally introduced by State Senator Ron Tupa

(a democrat) in the 2000 state legislature. It was defeated there.

It made it on the ballot this time around through the initiative process, with most of the funding coming from some guy from California (can't remember his name just now), who was a large contributor to the Democratic Party.

[genius]

9. Colo went red last time. Don't take chances. Vote for a split

A split will guarantee Kerry at least enough votes to win the country. That way we don't have to worry as much about losing all those votes.

[paulk]

11. There are many Democrats in Colorado opposed to this

including the State Democratic Party leadership. They are looking past this election.

[toopers]

12. Colorado voters should vote against it!

If this were to pass, Colorado would become a non-player in national politics going forward.

[stubertmcfly]

13. um. no.

this is a stupid proposition. unless the rest of the country follows suit, i say (and did) vote against. plus it is trending pretty solidly against so it if probably moot.

[donco6]

14. Even Salazar opposes it.

It's going down. Don't worry about it.