Gallup: Support For Electoral College Surges After 2016 Presidential Election

Democratic leaders have suddenly discovered that the Electoral College is anti-democratic and have called for its elimination.  I have long been a critic of the Electoral College, though I understand the concerns of those who fear that the loss of the institution would reduce presidential elections to the choice of states like California and New York.  However, the interesting result of this election (where Hillary Clinton won the popular) was a ground swell of calls for the elimination of the Electoral College.  The hue and cry for reform gave hope for critics (despite the obvious opportunism and hypocrisy from some quarters) but a recent Gallup poll indicates that an inverse move has also occurred as many have come to appreciate the counter-majoritarian impact of institution in this election.  The net results appears to be an increase in support for the Electoral College.

According to the latest poll,  47% of Americans say they want to keep the Electoral College while 49% want to amend the Constitution to allow for a popular vote for president. (For the record, I favor a majority vote requirement much like many countries around the world where a runoff occurs between the final two candidates to insure a majority election).  What is fascinating is that there was previously a majority in favor of eliminating the Electoral College.

The shift, not surprising, follows political affiliations.  Previously 50 of Republicans favored the elimination, but now it was just 19 percent.

The loss of the Democrats appear to have cut off this option with all of the spoils of victory.  While a bill was introduced to eliminate the Electoral College by Democrats, the Senate is now going to be control of the same party as a president who counts his election on that very institution.

Who said that Electoral College was not actually educational?