While many of the 200 people meeting here called Mr. Bush an illegitimate president, this was not a weepy session for Gore apologists or even mainstream Democrats. Hardly anyone mentioned Mr. Gore, except to say he had not been a good candidate; quite a few said, without apparent remorse, that they had supported Ralph Nader, the third-party candidate who arguably cost Mr. Gore the election. Others were bent on forming a new third party.

But they were united in believing that the nation's electoral system is deeply flawed, especially since it does not crown as the winner the person who wins the popular vote. They see the 2000 presidential election as providing a once-in-a-generation impetus to rally people to change the system.

''It's rare that a new issue comes forward and catalyzes people,'' said John Cavanagh, director of the Institute for Policy Studies, one of the groups that sponsored Friday's daylong talkathon on Capitol Hill. Others included the Nation Institute and the Center for Voting and Democracy.

''It's the issue that will bring together the black caucus and liberals, whites, Democrats and Hispanics in a longstanding reform effort,'' Mr. Cavanagh said.

Through the Internet, a coalition called the Pro-Democracy Campaign has already drawn up a 10-point ''Voters' Bill of Rights.'' Now in its fourth draft, it calls for:

*Abolishing the Electoral College.

*Allowing voter registration up to and on Election Day.

*So-called instant runoff voting, which would allow voters to rank their choice of candidates in order of preference. If no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the votes of those who had not picked one of the top two contenders would be automatically recast for their second or third choice.