Only 9% of Americans voted for either Trump or Hillary

As a practical matter I really don't care either way. That said, under your proposed system we would have had President Al Gore in 2000, who would have defeated GWB by 540,520 votes.

 

And that would be fine.

What are the downsides to a popular vote?

 

It takes the power of elections away from the states for one thing. With the exception of discrimination laws and a few other smaller statutes, the states hold all the power to determine how elections will be conducted in their respective states (i.e. some states have voter id laws, others do not). I don't think this should change. Even if you go off of a popular vote you are still going to get each states popular vote totals so in a sense it would be the same thing as we have now.

If we are going to change our election system I would prefer to see every citizen automatically registered to vote when they turn 18 and for people smarter than me to figure out how to allow people to vote online or via mail so that we are not taxed with long lines and elections being held on working days.

 

You needed a fucking ID to get in the DNC yet voter ID laws are bad?

The system is fucked. It would be one thing if all states had the same rules, but they don't. And a republican in CA might as well fist themselves during election night.

You would have a more involved base if popular vote was the rule.

Little really no downside.

And I'm only talking for presidential races.

 

I never said anything good or bad about voter id laws.....what in the hell are you talking about? A republican in california has no chance because the vast majority of voters are democrats. it has nothing to do with how voting is conducted.

 

Voting online would be easy. But not sure how you can say that but balk at voter ID laws.

I mean, you need an Id to have a job. This isn't racist propaganda like you like to spew.

 

Right. And the point is more people would vote if they felt their vote mattered.