Coastal Carolina University's Philosophy and the Sciences Series is hosting a panel discussion on Political Ignorance and Democracy on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Johnson Auditorium (Room 116) of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. The public is welcome to the free event.

Panelists will include Drew Kurlowski, assistant professor, of politics; Tim McGinnis, anchor and managing editor, WPDE; Holley Tankersley, chair and associate professor of politics; Jonathan Trerise, associate professor of philosophy; and Barbara Blain-Bellamy, mayor of Conway. Julinna Oxley, associate professor and chair, will moderate the discussion.

Decades of survey data show that most Americans have low levels of political knowledge. For example, small percentages of people know which party controls the House or the Senate. But is it rational for people to spend time becoming educated on political issues, given that the probability of a single vote changing the outcome of a presidential election is only one in 60 million? How important is it for citizens to be educated voters, or to even vote? Will democracy fail if citizens are not informed or are ignorant about politics?

For more information, call Oxley at 843-349-6548 or joxley@coastal.edu.