Why Does the Electoral College Exist?

Today we’re sharing a “live” program that, because the Center is temporarily closed, was held virtually, over Zoom. National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen brought together Jesse Wegman, Amel Amed, and William Ewald to discuss the Electoral College. They detailed how the founders envisioned the Electoral College, how it’s evolved over time, and whether the system should remain or be reformed or replaced. Jesse Wegman is a member of The New York Times editorial board and the author of the book Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College. William Ewald is professor of philosophy and law at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on James Wilson, one of the Founders involved in the earliest debates about how the president should be elected. Amel Ahmed is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She’s the author of numerous books and articles including “In Defense of the Electoral College.”

If you enjoyed this constitutional conversation, please tune in to our virtual programs. Check out our schedule of upcoming programs and join them live from any device by registering at constitutioncenter.org/debate. You can also watch the programs after the fact in our media library at constitutioncenter.org/constitution, on our YouTube channel, or right here on the podcast in the coming weeks.

Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.