On February 12, 2014, the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Nebraska legislature held hearings on the National Popular Vote bill (LB 1058) introduced by Senator John Murante.
A survey of 977 Nebraska voters conducted on January 26–27, 2011, showed 67% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
In a second question presenting a three-way choice among various methods of awarding Nebraska's electoral votes,
- 16% favored the statewide winner-take-all system (i.e., awarding all five of Nebraska's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes statewide);
- 27% favored Nebraska's current system of awarding electoral votes by congressional district; and
- 57% favored a national popular vote.
In a third question, 39% of voters think that changing the method by which Nebraska awards its electoral votes should be a high priority for the Nebraska Legislature in 2011, while 61% said that it should not.
The first question was: "How do you think we should elect the President: Should it be the candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states, or the current Electoral College system?"
On the first question, support for a national popular vote, by political affiliation was 78% among Democrats, 62% among Republicans, and 63% among others. By congressional district, support for a national popular vote was 65% in the First congressional district, 66% in the Second district (which voted for Obama in 2008); and 72% in the Third District. By gender, support for a national popular vote was 76% among women and 59% among men. By age, support for a national popular vote, 73% among 18–29 year-olds, 67% among 30–45 year-olds, 65% among 46–65 year-olds, and 69% among those older than 65. By race, support for a national popular vote was 68% among whites and 63% among others.
The second question was: "Do you prefer a system where the candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states on a nationwide basis is elected President, or one like in Nebraska where electoral voters are dispensed by Congressional district, or one in which all of Nebraska's electoral votes would be given to the statewide winner?"
In the second question, support by political affiliation was as follows:
| Democrat | Republican | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 65% | 53% | 51% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 26% | 27% | 32% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 9% | 20% | 17% |
In the second question, support by congressional district was as follows:
| First district | Second district | Third District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 53% | 58% | 59% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 26% | 31% | 26% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 21% | 12% | 15% |
The third question was "Do you think that changing the method by which Nebraska awards its electoral votes should be a high priority for the Nebraska Legislature in 2011?"
On the third question, by political affiliation, the percentage of voters who thought that changing the method by which Nebraska awards its electoral votes should be a high priority for the Legislature in 2011 was 38% among Democrats, 42% among Republicans, and 30% among others. By congressional district, the percentage of voters who thought that changing the electoral method should be a high priority for the Legislature was 37% in the First congressional district, 42% in the Second district (which voted for Obama in 2008); and 38% in the Third District.
The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%.
A survey of 800 Nebraska voters conducted on December 22-23, 2008 showed 74% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
In a follow-up question presenting a three-way choice among various methods of awarding Nebraska's electoral votes,
- 60% favored a national popular vote;
- 28% favored Nebraska's current system of awarding its electoral votes by congressional district; and
- 13% favored the statewide winner-take-all system (i.e., awarding all of Nebraska's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes statewide).
When presented with the basic question of a national popular vote, support for a national popular vote was, by political affiliation, 79% among Democrats, 70% among Republicans, and 75% among Others.
By congressional district, support for a national popular vote was 77% in the First congressional district, 68% in the Second district; and 77% in the Third District. As you know, the Second district voted for Obama in November 2008, and Obama received one electoral vote by virtue of carrying the Second district.
By age, support for a national popular vote was 64% among 18-29 year olds, 72% among 30-45 year olds, 73% among 46-65 year olds, and 79% for those older than 65.
By gender, support for a national popular vote was 82% among women and 66% among men.
By race, support for a national popular vote was 75% among whites (representing 88% of respondents), 56% among African Americans (representing 4% of respondents), 75% among Hispanics (representing 1% of respondents), and 67% among Others (representing 7% of respondents).
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%.
In the three-way question involving a choice among various methods of awarding Nebraska's electoral votes, support by party was as follows:
| Democrat | Republican | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 61% | 58% | 63% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 32% | 24% | 27% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 7% | 18% | 10% |
In the three-way question, support by congressional district was as follows:
| First district | Second district | Third District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 62% | 56% | 61% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 27% | 30% | 25% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 11% | 14% | 14% |
In the three-way question, support by age was as follows:
| 18–29 | 30–45 | 46–65 | 65 and older | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 49% | 59% | 60% | 63% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 37% | 35% | 26% | 23% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 14% | 7% | 14% | 13% |
In the three-way question, support by gender was as follows:
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 65% | 54% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 25% | 30% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 10% | 16% |
In the three-way question, support by race was as follows:
| White (88% of sample) | African-American (4% of sample) | Hispanic (1% of sample) | Other (7% of sample) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states | 60% | 52% | 63% | 57% |
| Nebraska's current district system | 27% | 37% | 25% | 35% |
| Statewide winner-take-all system | 13% | 11% | 13% | 8% |