A proposal has been made in California that would award one Electoral Vote to the winner of each Congressional District along with two Electoral Votes for the statewide winner. In a theoretical sense, 47% of California voters think that’s a good idea. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree while 23% are not sure. However, even that tepid level of support dissipates when voters learn that a change in California could significantly increase the number of Republican Electoral Votes. Once that is factored into the equation, support drops to 38% and opposition increases to 41%.

If this proposal were to be adopted by California, it add about 20 Electoral Votes to the Republican column in 2008. However, that fact alone makes it virtually impossible to envision a scenario where the Democratic leaning state would approve such a measure. The Republican backed proposal may be on the June 2008 ballot but the current polling data shows it has little to no chance of being approved by voters.

The survey found that there is even less support for another change in the rules for electing Presidents—only 11% say the U.S. Constitution should be changed so that Arnold Schwarzenegger can run for President. Eighty percent (80%) of California voters disagree.

Forty-six percent (46%) of California voters say that Schwarzenegger is doing a good or an excellent job. Thirty-one percent (31%) say he is doing a fair job while 22% rate his performance as poor.

Those numbers are far better than the President’s in California. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of California voters say George W. Bush is doing a good or excellent job as President. Nineteen percent (19%) say fair while 50% say he is doing a poor job.

By a 65% to 19% margin, California voters continue to favor term limits for state legislators.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

An earlier Rasmussen Reports survey found that voters believe it’s time for the two major political parties to change the way they nominate Presidential candidates. Other surveys have repeatedly found that just half the nation believes that our current approach to elections is fair to voters.

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