January 23, 2013
RICHMOND, Virginia — Virginia's Republican-ruled legislature has taken the first steps toward ending the state's winner-takes-all system of apportioning its 13 presidential electoral votes.
A Senate subcommittee recommended Sen. Bill Carrico's bill on Wednesday on a 3-3 party line vote.
His bill would apportion electors according to which presidential candidate carries each of the state's 11 congressional districts.
The candidate winning the majority of districts would receive the two electoral votes not tied to congressional districts.
President Barack Obama won Virginia's 13 electoral votes last year and in 2008. Under Carrico's revision, Mitt Romney would have won nine Virginia electors to Obama's four.
Carrico says rural areas of the state are rendered irrelevant by populous urban regions.
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