I’m actually helping someone write a paper along these lines, so I’m genuinely interested in the perspective of people who would disagree with a direct count or ranked choice or whatever. I am interested in what a real human being defending the current system would say.
IMO, it’s a Red Herring, pushed by corrupt DNC operatives that seek to misdirect voter rage in order to perpetuate the closed two party system that enriches them.
The real culprit is #FPTP.
Honestly, I’d suggest that you convince your friend to stop misdirecting their energy toward something that won’t solve the two party issue for their paper and instead writing their paper with a focus on:
This electoral college outrage feels like it comes from the same people that hang their hat on empty corporatist identity politics…and that should tell you everything you need to know. If Nancy Pelosi supports something, you know it’s corrupt.