Metro poll: Many readers stunned by election, would consider emigrating

Donald Trump stunned much of the nation with his victory and readers who participated in Metro’s latest unscientific poll seemed to reflect that reaction and many added they would consider emigrating to another country as a result.

We asked readers this question before the voting began on Election Day: “Regardless of whom you voted for, who do you think will win the election?”

Of the 206 readers who responded, 132 answered that they felt Hillary Clinton would prevail.

In a related, tongue-in-cheek question, Metro asked, “If your preferred candidate does not win the election, do you plan to leave the country?

The idea of becoming ex-pats apparently appealed to 76 of the 181 respondents, or 42 percent. The thought must have occurred to many Americans because Canada’s immigration website crashed on election night.

Several U.S. celebrities had said they would move out of the country if Trump won the election. Among them were Jon Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg and the singers Barbara Streisand, Miley Cyrus and Cher. We’re not sure anyof them responded to Metro’s online poll.

Our third election-eve, online poll question focused on the election process itself.

Trump won the presidency by capturing 279 electoral votes. As everyone was reminded incessantly during televised coverage of the election, 270 electoral votes are needed to win the election.

As Democrats were quick to point out Wednesday morning, more people from coast to coast voted for Hillary Clinton. She received nearly 59.6 million votes, nearly 234,000 more than Trump.

So based on the popular vote, Clinton should be president. But that’s not how it works.

Determining the winner of presidential elections on the basis of the Electoral College has long been a topic of debate. So we asked readers to weigh in.

Of the 179 readers who responded, 134 said that the popular vote should determine the outcome. Forty-five, roughly 25 percent, suggested we keep things as they are.