Pre-Conference Short Course #21
APSA 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
Philadelphia, August 30-September 3
Co-Sponsors: APSA Section on Representation and Electoral Systems & FairVote
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.
Presenters:
George Edwards (Texas A&M University, Editor of Presidential Studies Quarterly and author, “Why the Electoral College is Bad for America”)
Alexander Keyssar (Kennedy School of Government and author of “The Right to Vote”)
Rob Richie (Executive Director, FairVote)
Joseph Zimmeran (SUNY-Albany)
Arend Lijphart (UC-San Diego and former American Political Science Association President)
Alex Willingham (Professor of Political Science and Director of Multicultural Affairs at Williams College)
Jack Nagel (Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania)
Todd Donovan (Professor of Political Science at Western Washington University and co-author, “Reforming the Republic: Democratic Institutions for the New America”)
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]
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.