Do you understand what the Electoral College is? Or how it works? Or why America uses it to elect its presidents instead of just using a straight popular vote? Author, lawyer and Electoral College expert Tara Ross does, and she explains that to understand the Electoral College is to understand American democracy.
Right now, there’s a well-organized, below-the-radar effort to render the Electoral College effectively useless. It’s called the National Popular Vote, and it would turn our presidential elections into a majority-rule affair. Would this be good or bad? Author, lawyer, and Electoral College expert Tara Ross explains.

West Burlington’s Colten Hohenthaner (31) delivers the ball to the basket against Mt. Pleasant Saturday afternoon in Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant defeated West Burlington, 74-28.

West Burlington’s Darius Redd shoots a basket against Mt. Pleasant Saturday afternoon in Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant defeated West Burlington, 74-28.
Owen Elwood Bray, 83, Leon, died Thursday, December 31, 2015
Mary Jean Shoopman, 92, Burlington, died Saturday, January 2, 2016
Mary Ellen Gulick, 84, Burlington died Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Larry Jankowski, 76, Burlington died Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Raymond Russell Rutter, 83, Fort Madison died Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Mary Elizabeth Parker, 92, Burlington, died Saturday, January 2, 2016
Patsy Ruth Kauer, 79, Burlington died Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Barron L. Graham, 66, rural Sperry died Sunday, January 3, 2016
Zola V. Hunter, 95, Bloomfield, formerly Burlington, died Sunday, January 3, 2016
Tim Thye, 62, Sperry, died Monday, January 4, 2016
Betty J. (Smith) Malcom Wunderlich, 77, Burlington died Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Madelyn Adell Shumaker, 93, Danville, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Eleanor Rose Boecker, 88, Burlington, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Norma “Jeanie” “Granny” Adkins, 86, Gulfport, IL, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016
William “Bill” Schofield, 81, Burlington, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Paul August Amenell, 97, Burlington died Thursday, January 7, 2016
James Thomas “Jim” Newberry , 68, Burlington, died Thursday, January 7, 2016
Roberta “Bert” Weddle, 56, Burlington, died Thursday, January 7, 2016