The U.S. would no longer use the Electoral College to choose its presidents under a proposal introduced Friday by Florida's Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Instead, presidents would be picked by popular vote, a method that would have given former Vice President Al Gore the White House after the contested 2000 election. "It's time for Congress to really give Americans the power of one person, one vote," Nelson said in a statement.
But changing the system requires a constitutional amendment and a meat grinder of legislative tests.
First, Congress must approve the idea, and then 38 state legislatures must ratify the change within seven years. Even if it succeeds, a change likely wouldn't come until the next decade.
"Election reform is always a subject that gets people's attention, but it's always more difficult to do than people anticipate," said Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida.
The problem is twofold, she said. Throughout U.S. history, the idea of eliminating the Electoral College has been opposed by whichever major party would be put at a disadvantage. Smaller states also have resisted the change because it diminishes their influence in presidential races.
| Nice PR release for Nelson, however. |
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