Americans speak out against Electoral College

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks will hear a case on an injunction request from Texas Gov. George W. Bush to halt the handcount underway in Florida that Vice President Al Gore requested.\nThe handcount doublechecks Bush's lead of 327 votes in the Sunshine State, and, although the votes make up 1 percent of the total nation's vote, it's enough to win the presidency in the tightest election in American history.\nA final decision on who is president is set to take place by Friday, but nearly a week after the elections, people in Washington are frustrated with the system.\nThe talk in D.C., like much of the nation, has been non-stop election chatter. In bars, in restaurants and on the streets, people are tired.\n"This is kind of crazy. As far as I'm concerned, it's becoming more of a joke. This is way too long," said William Hurley, who works with Capital City Brewing in downtown D.C. Most of the conversations he's heard have centered around getting rid of the Electoral College -- a proposal he supports.\n"I honestly think they should get rid of the Electoral College," he said. \nAs the Electoral College goes in states -- excluding two states that split their votes -- the candidate the individual college chooses wins the state. In other words, if a voter cast a ballot for a candidate that did not win the state, the vote was ineffective. Popular votes count in each state, but the Electoral College determines the next president. With Florida, Bush leads in the Electoral College, but Gore has the popular vote leading over Bush by 216,427 votes.\n"What's the point of voting?" Hurley said, referring to the Electoral College. "I think this election is going to show a lot of indifference to the electorate."\nHurley criticized the media for broadcasting or putting up state's election results over Web sites when the polls hadn't closed. That, he said, could affect voter decisions.\n"When they do the voting, they shouldn't do anything until the voting is over," he said.\nOn the other hand, people such as Latrece Cheeks and Lee Carter are taking the election as an affront to African Americans. The two D.C. residents talked about the election Sunday morning at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.\n"I think they just don't want Al Gore to be president," Cheeks said.\nCheeks said she supported Gore because he is a Democrat and supports issues important to African Americans.\n"He's going to do a lot for us, black people," Cheeks said. "He going to work with Social Security so we'll be able to get it when we're older. When Republicans go into office, they don't do anything for black people. Republicans just mess things up for black people."\n"You're right," Carter said. "That's the truth."\nCheeks said she believes Gore is having problems because African Americans support him.\n"I just think black people have so many things against us. You don't find this in white people. When you have someone who's for us, then they have something against him," she said.\nCarter said he believes in a conspiracy theory. "I think someone did something with the votes. Someone had their hands in the cookie jar."\nPolitical pundits say the battle between Bush and Gore could continue after this week. If it does, Cheeks said so be it. "At this point, it doesn't really make a difference. We never had anything like this happen before … This is a major situation. This is supposed to be the leader of our nation."\nThe Associated Press placed Bush in the lead in Florida by little more than 300 votes based in 67 counties. State officials put his lead at 960 votes in 66 counties, with Palm Beach County barred from certifying figures until a state judge hears a challenge to the ballot format in that area. With late counted returns changing in New Mexico and Oregon, along with Iowa and Wisconsin -- where Gore is leading -- experts are saying it could invite a possible recount.\nRegardless of who wins the election, Americans are split, Hurley said.\n"It's a good idea to have someone like Gore who's experienced, and who understands foreign affairs. Then, again, it's also good to have a fresh face. That's where people are torn"