FairVote Forum on the Electoral College
Short Course 21- The National Popular Vote
Plan to Revamp the Electoral College
(Philadelphia, August 30-September 3)
Co-Sponsors: FairVote and APSA Section on Representation and Electoral Systems
Description:
Leading presidential scholars and reformers review the modern case against the current Electoral College system, explain the recently unveiled National Popular Vote plan that is advancing in a number of states and explore the proposal's potential impact on presidential elections and electoral reform.
Date: Wednesday, August 30
Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia – Conference Room (Two blocks north of City Hall and near APSA hotels)
Registration:
No fee. Call or email to register. Space limited to first 80 to register.
Materials:
FairVote's “Presidential Election Inequality” report
Short articles and handouts on National Popular Vote
Book – “Every Vote Equal” (additional $20)
Agenda:
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm: Introductions of Key Participants
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm: The Case Against the Electoral College
- George Edwards (Editor, Presidential Studies Quarterly and Professor of Political Science, Texas A&M University and author, “Why the Electoral College is Bad
for America”)
- Alex Willingham (Professor of Political Science, Williams College)
- Jack Nagel (Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania)
- Moderator – FairVote’s Rob Richie
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm: The National Popular Vote Plan - How it Works, Current Status in the States, and Plans Looking Forward
- Rob Richie (FairVote)
- Joseph Zimmerman (SUNY-Albany)
- Bill Shein (FairVote)
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Potential Impact of the National Popular Vote plan on Presidential Elections and Other Electoral Reforms
- Arend Lijphart, UC-San Diego and Former President of the American Political Science Association
- Alexander Keyssar (Kennedy School of Government, author of “The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in America”)
- Richard L. Engstrom,. Research Professor of Political Science and Endowed Professor of Africana Studies, University of New Orleans, Co-author of “Fair and Effective Representation”
- Todd Donovan, Western Washington University
To register, contact:
Bill Shein, Director
Presidential Elections Reform Program
FairVote, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: 301.270.4616
Fax: 301.270.4133
E-mail: [email protected]