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Why Do We (Still) Have The Electoral College?

(And What, If Anything, Can We Do About It?)

With Special Guest Howard Green

January 13, 2021

When the polling places closed on November 3, Americans watched with great anticipation to see who would occupy the Oval Office for the next four years.

As the days wore on, however, we had to wonder whether the candidate who received the most votes would win or not, and the every-four-year controversy over the Electoral College began again.

Why do we have the Electoral College? How does it vary by state? Is it patently fair or unfair? What can be done to change it?

Historian Howard Green discussed the history of the Electoral College, its strengths and weaknesses, and outlined some recent proposals to change it.

Howard Green moved from central New Jersey to Central Philadelphia three years ago. He is a historian who spent most of his career at the New Jersey Historical Commission; he also taught at a number of New Jersey colleges and universities. He has written or edited a few books and a handful of scholarly articles, curated museum exhibitions, and conducted countless oral-history interviews.

Anne T. and Peter S. participated in the discussion.

Our Penn's Village audience enjoys the presentation