Since 2000, with the three presidential elections won by small margins or winning only because of the Electoral College vote, this is not a new idea. I have not been able to find a "National Popular Vote interstate compact" in my research and Snopes has not heard of it either. I also talked with a political science professor who says that this would require a constitutional amendment.

The Electoral College was thought to be a balance between those who could read and write and those who could not in the late 1780s when the majority of 80 percent of the population could not read. Today, the US stands about a 50 percent literacy level (those who can read at a seventh-grade level or above).

Should the people be able to vote directly for the president and vice-president? Absolutely. But again, a "compact" will not cause the change - a constitutional amendment is necessary.