text: Changing the election by popular vote would not be smarter. Source 3 states, "In 2012's election... Obama recieved 61.7 percent of the  electoral vote compared to only 51.3% of the popular votes cast for him and Romney." This source is arguing against the Electoral college, meaning they're trying to make a point on why it's not fair that Obama won with his 61.7 percent. The people vote for their electoral college, for their state. If the electoral college's votes are higher than the popular votes that means that the college is doing their job correctly. Source 3 also states, "... Because almost all states award electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, even slight plurality in a state creates a landslide electoral- vote victory in that state." This statement means that even if the popular and electoral votes are both high, the electoral vote wins, because majority rules. Just because the person running for office is popular, doesnt mean they should necessarily win. Electoral votes basically come from the people, and if the "people" choose a certain candidate, then that's who should win.