Dr. Peter Miller, PhD Political Scientist, will give a presentation on abolishing the Electoral College and electing the President through the popular vote on Tuesday, August 21, at 7:00 pm in the large meeting room of the Missoula Public Library.  The presentation is free and open to the public.   Dr. Miller will address the historical purpose of the Electoral College at the time of the writing of the US Constitution and what has changed since then.   He will also examine several ways to reform the Electoral College to obtain direct election of the presidency.   Dr. Miller will include some comparisons to other countries that have abolished their Electoral Colleges and the impact this had on their elections and politics. 

“It is astounding that the one office people most often turn out to vote for is the one office in which the winner is not determined by one person, one vote!” said Nancy Leifer, president of the League of Women Voters Montana, sponsor of Dr. Miller’s presentation.   “Reform of the Electoral College to one-person-one-vote is critical to strengthen our democracy and encourage voter participation.” 

Dr. Miller is a native of Billings, Montana, where he graduated from high school.  He completed his doctorate in political science in 2013 at the University of California, Irvine.  Dr. Miller’s research interests include American and comparative politics, voting behavior, political institutions, and public opinion. His work has been published in the Annual Review of Political Science, Electoral Studies, the Election Law Journal, American Politics Research, and the Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties. Dr. Miller is currently working on a book on elections and turnout in the United States. He was a Fulbright Scholar to Finland in 2016.