Although the courts reached a decision deeming George W. Bush the president of the United States, the jury is still out on the role of the Electoral College in elections. Last night, four panelists debated the contested issue.
Government Prof. James W. Ceaser moderated the symposium, held in the Rotunda Dome Room. Shortly following the presidential election, newly elected Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) called for abolishing the Electoral College, Ceaser said.
"Should we do this?" Ceaser asked. "And if we did, would it help Clinton's chances of becoming president should she choose to run?"
This question sparked a lively discussion on the role of the Electoral College in American politics, including possible reforms to the system.
Ultimately, the only consensus reached by the panelists would be that Clinton probably will not announce a presidential candidacy for the 2004 election.
Of the four panelists, only John Anderson, president of the Center for Voting and Democracy and 1980 independent presidential candidate, favored eliminating the Electoral College.
"The Electoral College was undemocratic to begin with and is even more undemocratic today," Anderson said. He proposed basing presidential elections on an instant run-off system, in which voters would rank their choices for president.
If a candidate won the majority of first-choice votes, that candidate would be declared president, and if not the second rankings would be considered.
Panelist Darrell West, senior professor of political science and public policy at Brown University, said abolishing the Electoral College would have widespread implications.
"A lot of Americans view abolishing the Electoral College as a minor change, but this is not likely to be the case," Brown said. "Changes in this institution would change the current system of elections."
Chuck Todd, editor of the political news briefing The Hotline, favors reforming the Electoral College.
"Don't end it, mend it," Todd said. He favors dividing the country by congressional districts for presidential elections.
This would eliminate gerrymandering as well as the media's ability to take exit polls and thus call elections, he said.
William Mayer, associate professor of political science at Northwestern University, favors keeping the current system.
"We ought to be leery of changing institutions which have stood the test of time," Mayer said.
Second-year College student Billy Chorey, who attended the symposium, said he agrees with Mayer's position on the Electoral College.
Third-year College student Ed Burnett entered the debate in favor of eliminating the Electoral College and found an advocate for his point of view in Anderson.
"I was impressed that Anderson offered an alternative to the current system and was able to defend it," Burnett said.
The Center for Governmental Studies sponsored the event as part of its ongoing series on the presidential selection process.
The next and final portion of the spring symposium series will be held April 5, during which former governor and 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis will address audience members in the Chemistry auditorium.
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