change that freakin’ electoral system

On the topic of changing the electoral system, and if we didn’t start trying to change things after what happened in 2000, when are we going to change them: I actually think that this is an even better time than 2000 to re-evaluate the electoral system. In 2000 we were like “hey! what the hell? man, that was weird. ok, let’s hope that doesn’t happen again!” and yesterday, it just about did happen again. I think that this will really give people cause to think about it. When lightning strikes twice, you know something funny’s going on.

Doc made a rather excellent point:

As much as I would like to see it, a popular vote is a blueprint for disaster in my opinion. Not only will the states never agree on how to do it, but just take a minute to imagine the ARMIES of zombie-like lawyers that would have to be deployed to manage such a system. The legal challenges would be stifling if after the fact thousands of individuals and groups felt like they could change the outcome because an election official looked at them funny. I am not saying it could not be done; I just imagine it would be like the 2000 election x50 every 4 years. I think the best we can hope for is something like the system that Colorado was voting on.

Also see this site; it is a good study of the electoral collage system.