The popular vote is used only if all states have the same voter laws, with enforcement in each and every state up the wazoo. None of this BS as it happens in Florida, California, Illinois, etc. in Democrat areas.
The enforcement is uniform and unilateral, maybe have armed and bonded poll watchers, no exceptions. All this in addition to the electronic means you mentioned.
In addition to that, the vote count starts nationwide only after every state, including Hawaii, closes its polls. That means that the President will not be known until Wednesday afternoon.
As you can see, the logistics are not what the Dems would expect if there truly was a popular vote.
The Electoral College is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.
The ONLY path to overturn it is to have 38 states ratify a Constitutional Amendment. And sorry California and New York, that ain't happening.