SPRINGFIELD (The Center Square) – If Illinois lawmakers were ever given the chance to approve a change, they could join Maine and Nebraska in dividing up electoral college votes proportionally instead of it being a winner-takes-all state.
Illinois has 20 electoral votes for the electoral college. That’s the national system used to elect the president of the United States.
Illinois state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has for years filed a bill to allow for proportional allocation of those votes based on the state’s 18 congressional districts. The two at large votes would be weighted to the candidate that won the state’s popular vote.
“This kind of balances the need for the electoral college, but also reflects the will of the people a little bit more,” Butler said.
He said it’s a good compromise with those who want to get rid of the electoral college altogether.
“There are so many people that want to get rid of the electoral college, I think this is a good way to balance the desire to completely get rid of the electoral college with the need for the electoral college,” Butler said. “I think the electoral college plays a vital role.”
Butler’s House Bill 3109 has several Republican sponsors and remains in committee, where it's been since March 2019.
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