The Nation’s John Nichols to join Encircle Films discussion Sept. 19

Encircle Films launches Season 12 with One Person, One Vote? The Untold Story of the Electoral College on Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m., at the Art House, 492 E. 13th Ave., Eugene.

From award-winning director, Maximina Juson, One Person, One Vote? examines the Electoral College, the uniquely American and often misunderstood mechanism for electing a president. At a time when many Americans question democratic institutions, the film provides an unprecedented look at its inner workings.

Discussion after the film will feature National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation John Nichols, author, co-writer, and editor of over a dozen books on American politics.

Today, many Americans do not comprehend either the mechanisms of the Electoral College or the reasons why it exists. One Person, One Vote? offers a nonpartisan understanding of the institution, revealing its origins in a bygone era and its centrality to questions of the modern day.

The documentary follows four presidential electors in Colorado during 2020. Among them are Derrick Wilburn, a Republican activist and founder of the Rocky Mountain Black Conservatives; Polly Baca, a Mexican-American Democratic Party elder; Patricia McCracken, a student and first-time voter affiliated with the Green Party; and Kit Maclean, a humorous yet bona fide elector for Kanye West. Their motivations range from noble to unconventional, and each arrives with a distinct vantage point.

In addition to the electors’ journeys, the film provides historical context by exploring the origins of the Electoral College. Slavery was an inherent and often unnamed factor in its creation. Since its inception, the Electoral College has shaped centuries of history and national politics. While writing the U.S. Constitution, the framers argued, negotiated, and steered the discourse around how the nation would select a president. Animated historical vignettes and theatrical performances bring to life the speeches of integral figures including James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, and James Wilson.

Director Juson shares, “This film is for everyone who votes for president in the United States, no matter which side of the aisle you happen to sit on. Not only do the vast majority of Americans lack an understanding of how the Electoral College works, most don’t know why we have it in the first place.”

Juson said the film explores the forgotten history of the Electoral College, its early entanglements with slavery and “how it profoundly impacts American politics and society to this day.” Peter DeFazio recently said he considers the Electoral College one of the seven ways the U.S. Constitution blocks democracy.

One Person, One Vote? features an array of voices representing all sides of current Electoral College events intercut with commentary from dynamic subject matter experts who place the Electoral College in its historical context, including Lead Historian Dr. Paul Finkelman, Columbia School of Journalism Dean Jelani Cobb, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Carol Anderson.

Kelly McCreary of Grey’s Anatomy makes a cameo as one of several actors — cast by New York Theater Workshop Artistic Director, Patricia McGregor — who bring theatrical gravitas with their performances of historical quotes, with a score composed by multi-Grammy award-winning music producer Mark Batson and stunning animation by artist Pierre Bennu.

Stay with us after the film for what is sure to be a riveting discussion about the November election with John Nichols. In addition to his work at The Nation, he is also a contributing writer for The Progressive, and associate editor of The Capital Times, the daily newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin.

He has written, co-written, or edited over a dozen books on topics ranging from histories of important movements in American politics and the Democratic Party to analyses of U.S. and global media systems. His latest book, co-written with Sen. Bernie Sanders, is The New York Times bestseller It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.

The mission of Encircle Films is to create awareness of important social issues by showing impactful documentaries, inviting guest speakers to facilitate audience discussion, and inspiring citizens to get involved in issues of importance to them. Please mark your calendars for Oct. 10, when Encircle Films will feature Bad Faith, followed by a discussion with panelists Bob Welch, former Register-Guard columnist and author, and Don Gall, retired Eugene area pastor.

Visit the Encircle Films website for more information, to support our founder, to view the trailer, and to purchase tickets.