INSTITUTE -- The highly debated Electoral College process and the National Popular Vote bill will headline a public forum at West Virginia State University Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. in the McGhee Suites Banquet Room at the Wilson University Union.
The public forum will debate the question, “Is the Electoral College process necessary or even needed with the real-time reporting of election results in the presidential race?”
These issues will be discussed and examined by: Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha; Del. Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; Dr. Frank Vaughan, West Virginia State University; Dr. Marybeth Beller, Marshall University; Dr. Tera McCown, University of Charleston; and Dr. Arthur DeMatteo, Glenville State College. Dr. Gerald Beller, chairman of West Virginia State University’s Political Science Department, will moderate the event.
“With the presidential election only a few weeks away, this discussion on the Electoral College process is an important issue of interest to all West Virginians,” said West Virginia State University President Brian O. Hemphill. “It is critical that our University students be well informed on the policy issues and the candidates that will affect their daily lives.”
National Popular Vote legislation has been introduced in the West Virginia Legislature for the past few years and has been adopted in nine states representing a total of 132 electoral votes.
Under this legislation, all of West Virginia’s electoral votes would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The legislation would only take effect when identical legislation is enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270 electoral votes out of 538).
Currently, West Virginia’s electors are not bound by state law to cast their vote for a specific candidate.
W.Va. State to host forum on voting process
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
