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Saturday Morning News

Does the Public Really Want the Electoral College?

Aired January 6, 2001 - 7:05 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The presidential campaign officially comes to a close today in a formally dictated ceremony by the Constitution, and in keeping with this razor-close presidential race, it will not be without some last-ditch maneuvering. When Congress confirms the results later today in a joint session, at least two House Democrats, both from Florida, will contest the results, the objections more symbolism than substance.

And in a twist the founding fathers would appreciate, Vice President Al Gore will preside over the session that certifies his rival, George W. Bush, as the winner.

Today's finale to the presidential election offers something that was largely absent from the race itself. It is predictable. And to a large degree, so are many of the public feelings about the presidential process and procedures.

For an explanation, we turn to Gallup Poll's editor in chief, Frank Newport.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR IN CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Indeed, the U.S. Congress is fulfilling its constitutional mandate today as it officially certifies the electoral college vote that gives George W. Bush the presidency. Based on our polling data, however, a lot of Americans would prefer that they not have to go through this function. Majority favors, we'll show you in a second, a change to a popular vote system, junking the Electoral College system.

First of all, in mid-December, not a great surprise, huge numbers of Americans, relatively speaking, said we need changes in general in the way that a president is elected, 28 percent a complete overhaul, 39 percent major reforms. Now, this could include more than the electoral college system, of course, but it suggests in general that public opinion is tilting towards changing the way we elect the president.

Then let's look specifically at the electoral college. Interestingly, Gallup started asking people about changing the Constitution on this issue more than 50 years ago. Over here, 1944, two-thirds of Americans said get rid of the electoral college, go to popular vote. Nineteen-eighty, it was two-thirds, and now most recently in mid-December, 61 percent favored it, 35 percent not.

So historically now, for 50 years the public continually says yes, we're in favor of going to the popular vote system.

Now, as of December, it's political, maybe not surprising. Republicans not in favor of changing the system. You can see here, Democrats represented here overwhelmingly in favor of changing the system. That may be, of course, at least temporarily, because Democrats say had the system been different, their man, Al Gore, would have won. Those sentiments could change, of course.

Young people more interested in changing than older Americans, 18 to 29s, two-thirds say they should change it a little less among those that are up to about 50 years of age. But if you're older, 50-plus, less likely to favor change, a little more conservatism here for what's mandated in Article II of the Constitution.

That's where the public stands on the way we elect presidents. Back to you.

O'BRIEN: All right.

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