In most presidential elections in the United States, more than half the
states are ignored; voters who don't live in so-called swing states are in
effect bystanders in these quadrennial events. An Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution should replace the archaic electoral vote system with a direct
vote. Only in this manner will citizens in all 50 states be able to take
part fully in selecting our nation's leaders. 
-Lawrence R. Foster, "End the Electoral College," New York Times, 27 September 2000