Al Gore seeks to eliminate Electoral College
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By Philip J. Noble 12/4/16
Al Gore is condemning the Electoral College, saying “Our democracy has been hacked now. It’s pathetic how our system is not working today.”
Gore’s remarks come after the Hillary Clinton’s loss in the presidential election, despite her winning the popular vote by over 2 million.
Gore lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, despite also winning the popular vote. The Supreme Court intervened in the recount of Florida’s votes, essentially handing their electors, and the Presidency, to George W. Bush. At the time, Gore said that he still supported the institution of the Electoral College. He now says, however, that he thinks a popular vote system would “stimulate public participation in the democratic process like nothing else we could possibly do.”
“I think moving to a popular vote system is not without peril, it’s not without problems” said Gore. “It’s a balancing act, but I think the balance has shifted, in my mind at least.”
The election in November was the 5th time in U.S. history that a candidate has won the popular vote, but lost the presidency because of the Electoral College.