November 05, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Nov. 5, 2004 - Many Americans would consider doing away with the Electoral College, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 64 per cent of respondents would support a constitutional amendment to allow the election of the American head of state by popular vote.

(CPOD) Nov. 5, 2004 - Many Americans would consider doing away with the Electoral College, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 64 per cent of respondents would support a constitutional amendment to allow the election of the American head of state by popular vote.

In the United States, the president and vice-president are elected in a single ticket to a four-year term by an Electoral College, whose members represent each state of the union with a previously determined number of electoral votes, in accordance with the results of the popular vote in each state.

This week, Republican incumbent George W. Bush earned a second term after securing at least 274 electoral votes from 29 states. Candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House.

Poll respondents who backed either Bush or Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 election had different views on the subject. While 83 per cent of self-described Kerry voters supported a presidential election by popular vote, only 47 per cent of Bush backers concurred.

Polling Data

How much would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to have the president elected by the popular vote rather than by the Electoral College?

	All Resp.	Bush Voters	Kerry Voters
Very much support	35%	21%	50%
Support	19%	17%	22%
Somewhat support	10%	9%	11%
Neither support, nor oppose	14%	15%	9%
Somewhat oppose	4%	6%	3%
Oppose	6%	9%	3%
Very much oppose	12%	22%	3%

Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Online interviews to 6,963 American adults, conducted from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2004. Margin of error is 1.3 per cent.