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Direct vote would have many downsides including the fact that most states would be totally ignored by the candidates.
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Some states already are ignored... There could be a real issue in NH. Yet, the candididate don't really care. Electoral votes are based on population. States with large populations will always get the emphasis - regardless of whether a popular or electoral vote is involved...

It is important to understand why the electorial college exists. The reasons don't make sense anymore. Travel and communication is not an issue...

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If we had direct vote we would be recounting every voting precinct in the nation right now, not just a few counties.
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The issue is not with a popular vs. an Electoral vote. The issue is with flawed technology. Finally, there will be a blue-ribbon commission to have a STANDARD and AUTOMATED way of voting.

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I favor assigning electors by proportional representation. That would mean that my favorite candidate, Ralph Nader, would have to poll one fifth-fourth of the vote (2%) in California to get one elector. In Virginia with 11 (?) electoral votes, he would have to get about 9% of the vote to get one elector. In this election Bush would have gotten about 7 electors and Gore about 4 in Virginia.
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And the real difference between this and a popular vote is.....?????

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This system would track closely with the popular vote while avoiding the problems of direct vote.
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The problems with a direct vote are not with the direct vote per se. Rather, it is with the flawed technology used in many areas.

There needs to be simple, unambiguous standards with respect to voting. Local boards have way too much power. For many pathetic individuals, it is the only 15 minutes they will get. PTO's, School Boards, Election Boards - very small - yet some of the most politicized entities on the planet.

Your analysis looks at the symptoms of the problem - not the root cause.

And before anybody says it, a states 14th Amendment rights will not get trounced by mandating standards...


>It also opens up some fascinating possibilities for minority candidates and parties in a close election. Major party electors would have to negotiate with minor party electors to get to the 270 majority in the electoral college.
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No they won't. With all the money the Reform Party HAD - they had the best shot. And yet, they could not make it happen.