Electing the president by popular vote is an idea whose time might be just around the corner.

Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon is getting behind an innovative national effort to revamp the current system, but without getting rid of the Electoral College. A bill Gordon plans to introduce this week proposes to have Colorado join a compact of states that would pledge to award their electoral votes to the nationwide winner of the popular vote. The Illinois legislature is considering a similar proposal, which is being pushed by the bipartisan coalition National Popular Vote.

Polls have shown consistently over the last half-century that the majority of Americans favor direct elections. While the winner of the electoral vote historically has been the winner of the popular vote, it's not always the case, as we saw in 2000. It's an idea worthy of the legislature's consideration.