Eliminating the electoral college is a popular idea around here lately. Mostly since for the second time in my lifetime a Democratic candidate has lost the election but managed to run up a popular vote lead.
Gallop just polled (4% MOE) and found support for elimination of the electoral college at its lowest level since 1967.
When George W. Bush captured the presidency from Al Gore with a majority of electoral votes, despite Gore racking-up a plurality of the popular vote, national support for abolishing the institution neared 60-percent.
But now? Not even close. Even looking at the prospect of Trump in office people are not in favor of eliminating it.
While the post-election poll found that a plurality, 49-percent, of Americans support abolishing the Electoral College, this year marks the first time since 1967 that less than an absolute majority have responded favorably to the suggestion. Forty-seven percent, meanwhile, said they supported retaining the institution while 4-percent were undecided or had no opinion.
Gallup surveyed a representative sample of U.S. adults from November 28 to November 29, 2016. The poll has a margin of error of four-percent. So the election results and even part of the transition period are backed in (and Hillary’s clear popular vote win.)
Source: Americans' Support for Electoral College Rises Sharply