In a setback for the renewed effort backed by former President Donald Trump to change Nebraska's Electoral College allocation, Speaker John Arch announced on Friday that amendments attaching entire bills to other measures would no longer be accepted. With the legislative session concluding on April 18, the unicameral body is running out of time to process legislation.

Nebraska currently awards three of its five electoral votes to the candidate who carries each of the state's three congressional districts, leaving one vote in play from the competitive Omaha-based 2nd District. However, the proposed change to a winner-take-all system would guarantee all five electoral votes to the presidential candidate, effectively giving Trump an advantage in the state's 2024 election.

State Sen. Loren Lippincott, the sponsor of the winner-take-all bill, had intended to attach it to another piece of legislation after a previous attempt failed. However, Arch's announcement seems to have closed the legislative path for now. GOP Gov. Jim Pillen could potentially call a special session to address the issue, but there has been no response from his office regarding the matter.

During a press conference on Thursday, Pillen acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that fixing the winner-take-all system in such a short time frame was unlikely. He emphasized the need to win elections and get involved in the political game. Additionally, it was noted that proponents of the winner-take-all system lack the support of the necessary 33 legislators to overcome a filibuster.

The push to shift Nebraska to a winner-take-all system has been advocated by Republicans, given that the party's nominee typically wins the state. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's recent discussion of the system on his podcast gained national attention, leading Pillen and Trump to call on the legislature to act. However, with only a few legislative days remaining, the chances of success appear slim.

Although the state's unicameral legislature is technically nonpartisan, Republicans hold a filibuster-proof majority of 33 seats thanks to state Sen. Mike McDonnell's switch to the GOP. Nevertheless, McDonnell has stated that he would not support ending the debate on a winner-take-all bill.

Pressure to change the system continues to mount, with Kirk scheduled to appear at a rally in Omaha on Tuesday hosted by his organization, Turning Point Action. Kirk has also urged Pillen to call a special session to address the issue, further intensifying the discussion around Nebraska's electoral vote allocation.

As the legislative session edges nearer to its conclusion, the prospects of enacting a winner-take-all system in Nebraska become increasingly uncertain.