The Electoral College is more complicated, but it was set up so that smaller states still have a voice instead of just the biggest population centers deciding every election. If we only used the popular vote, candidates would probably focus almost entirely on big cities and ignore rural areas.

That being said, I can see why people think the popular vote feels more straightforward and “fair” because every vote would count the same. But changing it would also come with a lot of debate and possible downsides depending on how people are represented.