The Proposal: Senate Bill 11

Senate Bill 11, championed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, along with seven other Republican sponsors, seeks to introduce a divided electoral system. Under this proposal, New Hampshire would award one presidential delegate to the winner of each of its two congressional districts and two additional delegates to the winner of the statewide popular vote.

As stated in the bill,

“Congressional district presidential electors shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who received the highest number of votes in their respective congressional districts.”

This bill is set to receive its first committee hearing shortly, according to reports.

Maintaining New Hampshire’s Unique Status

New Hampshire holds a distinctive position in the national electoral landscape, known for its “First-in-the-nation” primary contest and the unique tradition of midnight voting in the small community of Dixville Notch. Gannon emphasized the importance of this status, stating,

“We want to stay ‘First-in-the-nation.’ That’s a big, important thing. We want our voters to feel: ‘I go out and vote – my vote counts.’”

Criticism and Controversy

The proposal has already faced criticism, particularly from state Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. She expressed concerns about the fairness of the electoral system, claiming that it is already heavily gerrymandered. Kwoka commented,

“I think this is yet another example of the Republicans kind of trying to change the system to meet their needs.”

In response, Gannon dismissed the notion that the bill aims to “steal” votes, asserting that the intention is to better represent the state’s electorate. He noted that the divided electors could have benefited Democrats in past elections, stating,

“If this law had been in effect in the 2000 presidential race, it would have helped Democrats.”

Looking Beyond Politics

Gannon expressed hopes of garnering bipartisan support for the bill, suggesting that its benefits could extend to both parties.

“I hope to pick up some Democrat support unless they vote in lockstep. It’s just going to represent the people more,”

he remarked, emphasizing the core aim of the proposal: to truly represent the will of the people.

Legislative Dynamics

New Hampshire boasts the largest state legislature in the nation, comprising 424 lawmakers, far exceeding Pennsylvania’s 203-member legislature. With a Republican supermajority in the state Senate (16-8), the bill stands a solid chance of passing in the coming weeks. Should it advance, the proposal would then proceed to the state House of Representatives, where the GOP also maintains a significant majority.

Opposition’s Response

Democratic state Senator Debra Altschiller criticized the initiative, asserting that it does not align with New Hampshire values. She quipped that if the state were to follow Maine’s lead, it should also adopt progressive measures like universal free lunch for students and background checks on firearms. Altschiller emphasized,

“We don’t always take our marching orders from other states.”

Recent Trends in Electoral Allocations

In recent presidential cycles, Maine has awarded its electors in a divided fashion, typically favoring the Democratic candidate. Notably, each time, Donald Trump managed to secure the one elector from Maine’s rural second congressional district. Conversely, during the 2020 and 2024 elections, President Biden clinched the single delegate from Nebraska’s Omaha-centric second congressional district, while Trump took the remaining four, showcasing the fluctuating dynamics of electoral distribution in these states.