Jerry Brown OKs potential change in awarding electoral votes

A warning for any Canadian who might even dream of adopting an American voting system:

The Electoral College splits up votes for president unevenly across the population, with less populous states having less say than more populous states. This has, understandably, always annoyed California, which is the most populous state and hence has the least say in selecting a president. Furthermore, California is seen as solidly Democratic, so presidential campaigns don't waste money looking for votes there.

So Gov. Jerry Brown (on his third non-consecutive term: see ), has an idea: Instead of awarding all of California's electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in California, they will go to the winner of the popular vote nationwide. The thinking is this will make "the change would make California and its large population more relevant in the election, forcing candidates to campaign more for votes here." The law only kicks in however if enough states sign on so that the law controls a majority of the electoral votes. Essentially, it makes the electoral college irrelevant and the winner of the nationwide popular vote will automatically win the Presidency.

It's a noble idea and a creative way around passing a constitutional amendment, but it could set a precedent. Before, the winner of a statewide election had to win at least the most votes, if not a majority of the votes, in that state. Now it seems that the states can select a winner in any way they choose.

If this system goes though, and there's a situation where the candidate lost the popular vote but would have won the electoral vote as it stands now, a court battle will rage which will make the Florida recount look like a parking ticket.