Nelson acknowledged it will be difficult to achieve the constitutional amendment necessary to abolish the Electoral College, because small states will oppose it.

To "speed things along," he also recommends the move for "national popular vote" legislation in each state. According to the movement's Web site, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland have passed it.

Under that legislation, a state agrees to give its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, regardless of the outcome in the state.

The legislation specifies that it won't take effect until states representing a total of 270 electoral votes, a majority in the Electoral College, have passed it, agreeing to abide by the national vote. That would guarantee the national vote winner becomes president.