UGA LEGAL EXPERTS TO ANALYZE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Abstract

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

WRITER: Kathy R. Pharr, (706) 542-5172, pharr@arches.uga.edu

UGA LEGAL EXPERTS TO ANALYZE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

ATHENS, Ga. -- A nationally renowned constitutional law scholar and a Pulitzer Prize-winning legal historian will analyze the flaws and strengths of the electoral college system Wednesday, November 15 at 12:30 p.m. in Room F of the University of Georgia School of Law. The roundtable discussion, featuring UGA's Hosch Professor Dan Coenen and Russell Professor Ed Larson, is presented free to the public by the law school's student chapter of The Federalist Society.

"The electoral college is a fascinating American institution," said Coenen. "It has its good points and its bad points and, for better or worse, it's very hard to change."

The results of the 2000 presidential election still hang in the balance, with neither Democrat Al Gore nor Republican George W. Bush mustering the required 270 electoral votes for election. Vote recounts in Florida -- the only state in which a winner has not yet been declared -- are still ongoing and being challenged by attorneys for both candidates. Gore leads in the national popular vote, but should Bush win Florida, he will claim the presidency through the electoral college system.

"I favor the direct election of president -- and have publicly favored it for years -- but I don't think that a constitutional amendment will ever pass to change it because the electoral college favors small states, and they would block the change, and is also thought to favor minorities, which is less certain," said Larson. "More realistically, I hope that this election confusion -- to the extent it has undermined public trust in our elections -- can be used to push for campaign finance reform, like Senator McCain's bill."

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