March 19, 2024
ICDD and political science host non-partisan discussion on elections
The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, or ICDD, and the political science department invite the K-State and Manhattan communities to learn about elections in a non-partisan, social setting at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Bluemont Hotel bar.
During the second "Voting is Social" discussion, political science head and associate professor Nathaniel Birkhead will answer questions about the peaceful transfer of power in democratic systems.
By offering expert, non-partisan information on election topics in a social setting, students, faculty, staff and community members can raise issues they might otherwise censure.
"The U.S. system is relatively demanding, asking citizens to vote often on rather lengthy ballots," said Colene Lind, associate professor in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication and director of ICDD. "Partisanship simplifies the selection, but new voters, who are more likely to register without a party label, need multiple opportunities to reflect on their preferences. They can do this on social media, but there you can’t always be sure about source motives or credibility. These talks offer an additional space for discernment, making an expert, credible source approachable."