Public opinion has supported nationwide popular election of the President for over six decades. For example, the Gallup poll in 1944 asked:
It has been suggested that the electoral vote system be discontinued and Presidents of the United States be elected by total
popular vote alone. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?1
In 1977 and 1980, the Gallup poll asked:
Would you approve or disapprove of an amendment to the Constitution which would do away with the electoral college and base the election of a President on the total vote cast throughout the nation?2
Table 7.1 shows the results for these public opinion polls in 1944, 1977, and 1980.
Table 7.1 PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR NATIONWIDE POPULAR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
|
APPROVE |
DISAPPROVE |
NO OPINION |
| June 2227, 1944 |
65% |
23% |
13% |
| January 1417, 1977 |
73% |
15% |
12% |
| November 710, 1980 |
67% |
19% |
15% |
The Gallup News Service has also reported:
The greatest level of support, 81%, was recorded after the 1968 election when Richard Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey in another extremely close election.3
