Virginia State Sen. Ralph Smith (R) has come out against a proposal to apportion electoral votes in the state by Congressional district, warning it could set off a chain reaction of similar schemes around the country. Smith sits on the closely divided Privileges and Elections Committee that is examining the bill, meaning his opposition likely ensures the proposal doesn’t reach the floor for a vote.
“What if all states got to skewering it to their advantage?” Smith told the Roanoke Times in explaining his decision. He added that he would only consider a shift in Virginia’s electoral vote rules “if every state does it that way.”