Bruce Cain and I , who organize the panels for the Law and Political Process Study Group, hope to see many of you at these:

The Electoral College: New Theoretical and Empirical Thinking

Thu, August 29, 10:00 to 11:30am, Marriott, Taft

Session Submission Type: Created Panel

Session Description

Interest in the Electoral College has grown with the continuing possibility of a split between the popular vote and Electoral College vote for President. This panel considers arguments for, critiques of, and empirical analysis regarding the Electoral College in our current polarized political era.

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Law and Political Process Study Group

Individual Presentations

• A Very “Unpopular” Argument: The Left Case for the Electoral College – Amel F. Ahmed, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Presidential Elections and Majority Rule – Edward B. Foley, Ohio State University
• A Modern Defense of the Electoral College – Michael T. Morley, Florida State University
• A Bug in Democracy: Mythical and True Flaws in the Electoral College – Samuel S.-H. Wang, Princeton University

Chair

• Richard L. Hasen UC Irvine School of Law

Discussants

• Jennifer L. Lawless University of Virginia
• Lawrence Lessig Harvard University

Restoration and Suppression: The Contemporary Frontiers of Voting Rights

Sat, August 31, 2:00 to 3:30pm, Omni, Council Room

Session Submission Type: Created Panel

Session Description

The current war over voting rights has two fronts. The first is the effort to expand voting rights to those who lost them as the result of violating the law. The second is the contraction or suppression of voting rights by means of more restrictive qualifications for the alleged purpose of preserving voter integrity. With respect to the former, the question is whether and to what degree the restoration of voting rights to ex-felons has successfully enhanced their political participation and engagement. With respect to the latter, the question whether there is a constitutional basis for protecting against those who would use the pretext of preventing fraud to suppress the voting participation of political rivals?

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Law and Political Process Study Group

Individual Presentations

• The Elephant in the Room: Intentional Voter Suppression – Lisa Marshall Manheim, University of Washington
• Barriers to Registering Returning Citizens in Florida – Daniel A. Smith, University of Florida
• Voting Rights Restoration for Individuals with Past Criminal Convictions in Va. – Emily Zhang, Stanford University

Chair

• Michael C. Herron Dartmouth College

Discussants

• Martha E. Kropf University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Bertrall Ross UC Berkeley