A GOP scheme to redistrict and rig the electoral college in favor of Republican candidates is living on in the state of Pennsylvania. While the bill being pushed in Pennsylvania is slightly less brazen than previous bills put forward in states like Virginia, it would still change Pennsylvania’s current system to one that distributes their 20 electoral votes proportionately to each candidate’s share of the state-wide vote rather than giving all 20 votes to the winner.
In the last election, if this bill had been in effect, President Obama would have won 12 electoral votes, instead of the 20 he did receive, and Mitt Romney 8, instead of 0. State Senate president Dominic Pileggi (R) is pushing this revised version of the bill, which has garnered support from both Governor Tom Corbet (R) and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R).
According to Rep. Mike Sturla (D), Republicans could easily push this plan into law before anyone can fully mobilize an opposition. GOP leaders may not rush to embrace the bill this time for fear of igniting a partisan debate.
Alisha Mims is a writer and researcher for Ring of Fire.
