Final answer:
George W. Bush was elected President in one of the closest elections in history in 2000. The controversy surrounding disputed votes in Florida resulted in Bush winning the election despite polling fewer votes than his opponent, Al Gore. The question of whether to continue using the electoral college system is a topic of debate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The winner of the 2000 Presidential election in one of the closest elections in history was George W. Bush. He was declared the winner by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Bush v. Gore. Despite receiving approximately 540,000 fewer popular votes nationally than his Democratic opponent, Al Gore, Bush won the election with a majority in the Electoral College of 271 votes to 266.The controversy surrounding the election revolved around disputed votes in Florida. The race in Florida was incredibly close, with Bush initially leading by a small margin. However, an investigation reduced his margin to just 150 votes. The Bush campaign won an injunction from the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the recount to stop, resulting in all of Florida's electoral votes going to Bush.Whether the United States should continue to utilize the electoral college system is a topic of debate. While it can result in a candidate winning the election with fewer popular votes, the system was designed to ensure that smaller states have a voice in the election and prevent domination by more populous states. The question of whether to keep or abolish the electoral college requires careful consideration of these factors.