Edward M Kennedy Institute hosts online national student debate on the Electoral College in the USA
The Edward M Kennedy Institute (EMKI)—which educates the public about democracy and civic responsibility through interactive programs and exhibits—recently hosted Election 2024: Electoral College, a civic education program for students.
The event allowed participants to explore the Electoral College's role in American democracy through hands-on engagement.
Student engagement in civic debate
Over 850 students from nine states, including Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia, attended the virtual event.
Participants, ranging from grades 5-12, assumed roles as Senators and engaged in a simulated debate on a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College. The program encouraged students to articulate diverse viewpoints and debate the impact of the current system on democratic representation.
Several students expressed contrasting perspectives on the Electoral College. One student voiced concerns over its effect on democratic power, noting, “The electoral college is making the power of the people less effective. Presidents are winning power without the support of the people.”
In contrast, another student argued for the Electoral College’s importance in balancing state interests, stating, “We should keep the electoral college because it is protecting the small states from big states making all the decisions in the elections, and changing a historic process could create discord in the government.”
The program’s participants were divided into two groups to conduct mock votes on the amendment. In the first session, 54% of students voted in favour of abolishing the Electoral College, while 46% voted against, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment.
In a second session, however, the resolution passed with 80% of participants voting in favour, demonstrating a marked shift in opinion across the different groups.
EMKI’s civic education initiatives have reached over 140,000 students from 43 states, addressing topics that include the Electoral College, branches of government, and key civic responsibilities.
These programs are part of EMKI’s mission to foster bipartisan dialogue and civic understanding among young people, with a focus on encouraging future generations to engage actively with democratic processes.
Civic education as a pillar of democracy
EMKI’s CEO, Adam Hinds, emphasised the importance of providing young Americans with opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions on democracy, particularly during significant election years.
Speaking exclusively to ETIH, Hinds remarked, “In this moment in history and in this moment in the 2024 election, it is meaningful for students from across the country to come together to discuss and understand our system of democracy, with each other. Imagine if voters of all ages did the same thing.”
Sarah Yezzi, Director of Education at EMKI, highlighted the program’s impact on student participants, noting, “With so many students focused on the elections and the electoral college, it was powerful to have hundreds of students from multiple states in dialogue about both. There was so much excitement that one school in Virginia continued the conversation after the program finished.”
