The 2020 election, whatever the outcome, will be a pivotal point in American history in fundamental respects. It will demonstrate for all to see the deep and dangerous defects in our presidential election system. Some citizens may embrace that system because it makes possible that their candidate who earns millions and millions fewer votes nationwide than his opponent will become the chief executive of the country as a whole or come very close. But the majority of Americans, including many Republicans, will feel that the country’s presidential election system has betrayed them and the values our country stands for…
This chronology was compiled by Mark Bohnhorst, Chair, Presidential Elections Team, Minnesota Citizens for Clean Elections (MNCCE).
The index provides brief comments/summaries of substantive statements of participants. A recording of the conference is available at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/electoralcollegereform2020.
National Popular Vote Research Presented to NASS (the National Association of Secretaries of State) by Matt Shapanka, of counsel to Making Every Vote Count.
In two of the past five United States Presidential elections, the winner of the national Popular Vote has lost the Electoral College. It can be contended that this dynamic is essentially lightning striking twice in the same place, and that future conflicts between the Electoral College and the Popular Vote are unlikely. However, by simulating future Presidential elections based on current trends, we discover very different results. We determine that if we continue to see close Presidential races, over 30% of elections in the next century are likely to select a President against the will of the majority of voters. As Presidential elections have been getting closer, the probability of an Electoral College / Popular Vote (“EC/PV”) clash has been rising -- this trend is likely to continue. Therefore, unless the electorate becomes less polarized and less lopsided, EC/PV splits will become an ongoing, frequent occurrence in Presidential elections…
The August 13 program may be unique in having begun with an in-depth examination of race and the Electoral College. This was made possible in part because two remarkable books published in 2020 address this topic in depth, and because the authors were able to join the program. In addition, since 2018, co-host and co-organizer Making Every Vote Count has made it a part of its educational mission to bring the topic of Race and the Electoral College to the attention of the American people…