Final answer:
The presidents who would have been elected if the popular vote counted instead of the Electoral College are Andrew Jackson (1824), Samuel J. Tilden (1876), Grover Cleveland (1888), and Al Gore (2000). These elections are known examples where the winner of the Electoral College differed from the winner of the popular vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
Presidents Elected Without Winning the Popular Vote
In U.S. history, there have been four instances where a candidate won the presidency without securing the majority of the popular vote. Notable among these are the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000. According to historical records, had the popular vote determined the presidential winners, the individuals who would have became President instead are: Andrew Jackson in 1824, Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, Grover Cleveland in 1888, and Al Gore in 2000.
The Electoral College system in the United States allows for a scenario where the popular vote and the Electoral College can produce different outcomes. In forty-eight states and the District of Columbia, the winner of the popular vote takes all the electoral votes, while in Maine and Nebraska, the electoral votes can be split proportionally.
Despite instances causing public debate over the efficacy of the Electoral College, reforms have not taken significant hold. The 2016 and 2000 presidential elections are poignant examples where the popular vote winners Hillary Clinton and Al Gore, respectively, did not become president. The continued use of the Electoral College reflects its deeply entrenched role in American electoral politics.