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A Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Americans want the U.S. presidential election to be determined by the candidate who wins the most votes nationally, rather than keeping the current Electoral College system. The study, which involved 9,720 U.S. adults from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, 2024, showed that eight in ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents supported replacing the Electoral College with a popular vote system, while Republicans were divided with 53% favoring keeping the Electoral College and 46% preferring to replace it. The Electoral College has been in place for over 200 years and has resulted in instances where the winner of the popular vote did not secure sufficient Electoral College votes to become president, as happened in the elections of 2000 and 2016.
Electoral College System Challenged as Most Americans Favor Popular Vote Method
The U.S. presidential race’s outcome depends on the Electoral College, a practice sustained for over 200 years. However, recent surveys indicate that a majority of Americans would prefer to abolish this system.
Public opinion data from 9,720 U.S. adults surveyed from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, 2024, reveal that presidential election winners lost the popular vote but secured the presidency in 2000 and 2016 due to the Electoral College system. The survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP). Learn more about ATP’s methodology.
The Electoral College, comprising 538 electors based on the number of congressional representatives and senators each state has, is awarded entirely to the presidential candidate who wins the state vote in most states. However, 63% of Americans prefer the president to be the candidate who secures the most national votes, according to the recent Pew survey.
Despite the ongoing debate around the Electoral College, its importance is amplified during tight presidential races, such as the recent attempt in Nebraska to modify its awarding criterion for electoral votes. This news further emphasizes the possibility of a slim Electoral College victory in an extremely close race, thereby affecting the 2024 presidential elections.
Partisan Opinions on the Electoral College System
Opinions on the Electoral College system vary among party lines. While eight in ten Democrats endorse replacing the system with a popular vote, Republicans are more divided with 53% backing the current system and 46% favoring a shift to the popular vote system.
The Electoral College system has also spurred changes in Nebraska, where electoral votes are allocated differently. Here, two electoral votes go to the statewide winner and one to each congressional district winner. However, debates have surfaced to amend this system to mirror the winner-takes-all approach of other states, a move that could favor former President Donald Trump. To become president, a candidate must obtain a majority of the 538 electoral votes.
The current U.S. electoral system has seen instances where the winner of the popular vote did not secure the presidency due to insufficient Electoral College votes, as witnessed in the 2000 and 2016 elections. Also, with the Electoral College system, more attention is paid to the results in a few battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Evolution of Partisan Views on the Electoral College
Democratic support for shifting to a popular vote system has remained steady since the 2000 election. However, Republican opinions have fluctuated over the years. In the aftermath of Trump’s 2016 Electoral College victory, only 27% of Republicans supported the popular vote system. Today, this figure has risen to 46%.
Interestingly, within both parties, ideological differences influence views on the subject. For instance, 87% of liberal Democrats prefer the popular vote system, compared to 74% of conservative and moderate Democrats. Among Republicans, 63% of conservatives favor the current system, while 61% of moderates and liberals support the adoption of the popular vote system.
Support for changing the election system cuts across all age groups, although adults under 50 are more supportive than their older counterparts (66% vs. 59%).
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