Electing the President

Creation of a compact to have each state's electors cast their votes for the national popular vote winner would give the presidency to highest vote getter, even if the electoral outcome is a plurality rather than a majority. It takes away state-by-state gaming but it favors population centers over states.

There is an alternative which goes the other way, with each state going the way of Maine and Nebraska. 

A hybrid of these two is should be considered. Each state would distribute its electors by congressional district, with the two additional electors going to the winner of the national popular vote. This makes the national vote important, as well as each district. 

Of course, the question of repealing the Electoral College and replacing it with a vote by the House, with each member having one vote and the national popular vote, or two electoral votes from each state, determine the other 102 electors. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Smaller parties might even win a district - a real possibility if the Republicans and the Democrats both split, although such a split would likely result in at least one national party made up of money interests with the other taking on progressive Democrats, Libertarians and Greens. The nation is due for such a realignment, which may happen without a change in presidential selection. The possibility of another election decided by the House of Representatives would force realignment sooner than later.

Regionalization could be used to elect the President. First, create regional caucuses in the Senate and House (with equal electoral vote strength). Second create the office of regional vice president selected by the Electoral College. 

Every four years, a third of the electors in each region are selected by each caucus who, along with the regional VP's, elect the President. This could also be done by interstate compact. A national caucus would be made up of a delegate from each regional House and Senate. 

Regional Senate Caucuses would be return to their original purpose, to assure that large state interests do not outweigh small state interests. If that is not seen as important, the Senate can be abolished. Regardless, regional caucuses would make government closer to people, rather than the majority party in the House working its will at the expense of the minority party. Under the Hastert Rule, which was inevitable, the Speaker may as well be a Prime Minister, making the President and the Senate superfluous. 

A constitutional amendment would be used to create a regional electoral college and specify that the President be elected by the National Caucus and regional vice presidents directly every two years. This would fulfill the original purpose of the Electoral College and prevent the election of another amateur president