On Oct. 12 the Otterbein Department of Communication hosted a debate arguing the merits of the Electoral College and the popular voting system.
Arguing on the behalf of the Electoral College was senior communication studies major, Paulina Bacigalupo. Her opponent, arguing for the use of popular vote, was senior communication studies major, Lisa Adams.
The debate moved quickly as each debater got just under 15 minutes in which they had to establish their argument, question their opponent, give a quick rebuttal and finally close their speech. At the end, a panel of judges, four faculty and staff members of Otterbein and one student representative, voted on who they felt won the debate.
Bacigalupo made many strong points for the continued use of the Electoral College. She stated that it is a tried and true method that has been employed since the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and it assures that all states have a fair say in the election. Bacigalupo then went on to discuss the difficulty of moving to a popular voting system noting that it will require an amendment to the Constitution. In acknowledging concerns from her opponent, Bacigalupo indicated that while faithless voters (representatives who do not vote for the presidential candidate in which they pledged to) do exist in the electoral college, they do not pose a serious threat to the integrity of the system.
In favor of the popular voting system, Adams argued that the Electoral College offers too few electors to represent the voice of the total population of the United States. She went on to say that the Electoral College system dilutes the voice of the voters as it only appeals to the majority and neglects the minority. Adams pointed out that the Electoral College has the final say, which may be misleading to many voters who believe their single vote helps determine the course of the election. Adams also noted that the Electoral College gives larger states an unfair advantage and that faithless voters face no consequences for their actions.
After both debaters gave their final closing speeches, the judges were asked to hold up cards indicating which side won the debate. In a three-to-two vote, the arguments for the Electoral College made by Bacigalupo won the debate.
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