Resource person: Audra Bullard - office@clehighlands.com

Description:

The electoral process, voting rights and redistricting have assumed a more controversial position in U.S. politics than at any time since World War II. Working together, they enable the voices of the citizenry to put government in the hands of public officials and legislative representatives who will labor faithfully to fulfill the will of the electorate. In the past two national election cycles, however, the long overlooked vulnerabilities in our national politics have become more apparent and subject to attack. Professor Cooper has had a ringside seat in the election wars in North Carolina as both an expert witness in the ongoing litigation as well as a scholarly observer. In his presentation, he will survey the features of the election process that effectively minimize the prospect of organized and widespread fraud and mismanagement of the election process. He will also discuss the legislative and political strategies which have the effect of determining who votes, where they vote, and for whom they get to vote. Ultimately, the presentation and discussion should leave participants with a better understanding of how our electoral structures amplify and constrain the voice of the people in 2024.

Presenter: Christopher A. Cooper is Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and Director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University. He is the coauthor of The Resilience of Southern Identity: Why the South Still Matters in the Minds of its People, co-editor of The New Politics of North Carolina and author of the forthcoming Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer (all from UNC Press) as well as more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles. He has served as an expert witness on elections and voting rights cases and is a frequent source for journalists seeking expertise about American, Southern, and North Carolina politics. His quotes appear in a variety of media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, NPR, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.

Notes: Cancellation Policy Please let us know immediately if you are unable to attend a class. There is no refund for cancellations within two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled class. Programs that include food, beverage or art materials must be canceled within three (3) weeks prior to receive a refund. CLE reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment has not been met or for circumstances beyond our control, and participants will be notified, a complete refund will be issued. All classes are held in the CLE Lecture Hall at the Peggy Crosby Center unless otherwise noted. In the event information has changed from the published brochure, it will be posted on our website and in our e-blasts. Addresses for “private home” venues will be provided to registrants within 2 days of the program date.

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