Episode 10: The role of the electoral college and the rise of evanglicals in the US election

In Episode 9 we looked at the underlying issues which will inform the American presidential election, including coronavirus and civil unrest, as well as some more surprising concerns that voters have.

In this episode we take a step back and look at the history that has shaped the current system, including the electoral college and issues of faith.

To discuss this we have gathered three EARC experts to help us to understand the broader context.

• Emma Long is a Senior Lecturer in American Studies in the School of Art, Media and American Studies at UEA. Emma’s research focuses on the history of the US Constitution and the Supreme Court. She also has an interest in the interaction of religion and politics in American history, particularly issues related to the idea of the “separation of church and state” that emerge from the First Amendment.
• Royce Carroll is a Professor in the School of Government at the University of Essex. His research focuses on democratic institutions and the role of representation in the policy-making process in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, particularly in the areas of legislative politics, political parties and quantitative methodology in the measurement of ideology.
• Rubrick Biegon is a Lecturer in International Relations in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent. His research interests are concentrated in the areas of US foreign policy, inter-American relations, and international political economy. He is interested in debates over power in international politics and the global economy.

Photo credit: “Jimmy Carter: American Experience” by gademocrats is licensed under CC BY 2.0