The Proportional Plan
The proportional plan is where a state's electoral college votes are distributed based on the proportion of the vote their party received. For example, in 2012 Wisconsin, who has ten electoral college votes had Obama win their state with 53% percent of the vote while Romney had just 46% the other 1% going to other candidates. In our current system Obama got all ten votes while Romney got zero.
A proportional system especially would depend on how exact the state wanted to count their votes. For example they could choose to do it using whole numbers and rounding with Obama receiving 5 and Romney also receiving 5 because 4.6 rounded is five or depending on how many "other" candidates there are Romney might get 4 votes while an "other" candidate would get 1. Some have also suggested a "strict" way of distributing the votes by splitting the votes into as little as one thousandth of a vote. In a strict proportional plan Obama would have received 5.3 votes, Romney 4.6 and the "other" would get .1 vote.
A proportional system especially would depend on how exact the state wanted to count their votes. For example they could choose to do it using whole numbers and rounding with Obama receiving 5 and Romney also receiving 5 because 4.6 rounded is five or depending on how many "other" candidates there are Romney might get 4 votes while an "other" candidate would get 1. Some have also suggested a "strict" way of distributing the votes by splitting the votes into as little as one thousandth of a vote. In a strict proportional plan Obama would have received 5.3 votes, Romney 4.6 and the "other" would get .1 vote.
Colorado
Colorado came the closest in 2004 to enacting a proportional plan. They provided a "Blue Book" to their voters which had the text of the amendment and the pros and cons of what such an amendment would mean.
Their Argument for the Amendment:
A proportional plan would more accurately represent their statewide vote, not just the candidate who could have gotten as little as one vote more than another.
It could encourage more eligible adults to vote because it may make them feel like their vote matters more.
Arguments against the amendment:
The current system encourages candidates to come to their state and fight for their nine electoral college votes. If they adopted a proportional plan their votes would almost always be split 5-4, this predictability and low amount of possible electoral college votes would make them one of the least influential states.
This makes it easier for minority candidates to succeed which could possibly lead to neither major candidate receiving the necessary 270 electoral college votes. In which case the decision would got to the U.S. Congress would appoint the president.
Their Argument for the Amendment:
A proportional plan would more accurately represent their statewide vote, not just the candidate who could have gotten as little as one vote more than another.
It could encourage more eligible adults to vote because it may make them feel like their vote matters more.
Arguments against the amendment:
The current system encourages candidates to come to their state and fight for their nine electoral college votes. If they adopted a proportional plan their votes would almost always be split 5-4, this predictability and low amount of possible electoral college votes would make them one of the least influential states.
This makes it easier for minority candidates to succeed which could possibly lead to neither major candidate receiving the necessary 270 electoral college votes. In which case the decision would got to the U.S. Congress would appoint the president.
My Take
In my opinion, the proportional plan is the most complicated of the options provided here. It could take an already confusing system and make it even worse by somehow trying to find a way to award one-fifth of a vote. However it also has it's merit. It is in many ways close to a popular vote, relying heavily on the percentages and popular vote but it still keeps the tradition and legacy of the electoral college alive.
While it is an interesting idea, it would take a lot of effort, explanations and a pinch of luck to work out.
While it is an interesting idea, it would take a lot of effort, explanations and a pinch of luck to work out.