Next Meeting - The Crazy Electoral College System Electing an American President

Next Meeting
In the 2016 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump received 46.1% of the total vote (compared with President Barack Obama in 2012 who received 51.1%) and nearly three million fewer votes than his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Yet he was declared the winner in a convincing victory that gave the Republicans control of the Presidency and ensured they retained control of both houses of Congress. How on earth did that happen? The answer is the 'crazy' American Electoral College system. Barrister, historian, author, Stephen Marantelli will explain all with the help of this electoral map. And could it happen again? This Tuesday, 7:30pm, via Zoom of course.

A Message from Stephen Marantelli

The talk, on Zoom, will be on the "crazy" Electoral College system, the process Americans use to "elect" their President and Vice-President on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years. How does it work? Why was it ever introduced?  Is there any way to reform it?

If the talk were given in person, I'd distribute a one-page, two-sided handout. I don't have access to a scanner at the moment. I will on Monday and scan the document to you, and ask you to have your fellow Rotarians print it out and have it before them on the night. It will be easier to follow the talk. 

A barrister by day, I am an amateur historian by night. In 2018, my book Three Brothers: When George Washington and Edmund Barton Sat Down To Dinner was released; “a witty behind-the-scenes peek into the rough and tumble world of nation building as told by the first captains of the American and Australian Ships of State,” one reviewer wrote. Time permitting, I'll give it a short plug and leave details for those interested in purchasing a copy.

Regards,
Stephen Marantelli