Final answer:
The Electoral College debate in the 2000 election was fueled by George W. Bush winning the presidency despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore. Controversies over the vote count in Florida and the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore challenged the legitimacy of the election process. Despite calls for reform, significant changes to the Electoral College have not been pursued.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2000 presidential election highlighted significant issues with the Electoral College. Republican candidate George W. Bush won the presidency with 271 electoral votes to Democratic candidate Al Gore's 266, even though Gore received approximately 540,000 more popular votes nationally. This outcome spurred debates on whether the Electoral College should be reformed or abolished, given that it allowed a candidate to win without the majority of the popular vote. The controversy centered particularly around the vote count in Florida, where Bush was declared the winner by a margin of only 527 votes, which ultimately decided the election.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore ended the recount in Florida and effectively determined the election's outcome, leading to questions about the legitimacy of the election process and the role of the judiciary. The debate was further intensified by issues such as the "butterfly ballot" and contested votes, highlighting flaws in voting systems and practices.
Despite public outcry for change and the apparent weaknesses the election revealed in the Electoral College system, significant reforms have not been made. The difficulty of amending the Constitution, the vested interests of certain states, and the political implications for incumbent presidents have all contributed to the system's staying power.