Photo By: South Dakota Public Broadcasting

The National Federation of State High School Associations recently tabulated debate ballots from 29 states, Washington D.C., the National Speech and Debate Association, the National Debate Coaches Association, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues and the National Catholic Forensic League. The returned ballots narrowed the five proposed topics to two for placement on the final ballot to select the 2020-2021 national high school debate topic. The five topic areas were ranked 1-5 with the two topic areas receiving the lowest totals –Climate Change and Criminal Justice Reform – placed on the final ballot. On January 10, 2020, the NFHS will announce the preferred topic area and resolution after states and national organizations are able to place a final vote. The 2020-2021 national high school debate topic and resolution will be posted on the NFHS Speech and Debate webpage and sent to state associations and affiliate members.

The following states returned ballots:

In addition to the 30 State Associations, the NDCA, NSDA, NAUDL and NCFL returned the ballot.

Within each of the five topic areas appears one resolution.  The resolutions within the two final topic areas are:

CLIMATE CHANGE

• Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase market-based regulations requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

• Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing.

The following chart summarizes the balloting on the topic areas and their respective resolutions. Areas ranked 1-2-3-4-5 with low combined total indicative of top ranking.

National Policy Debate Topic Area Balloting:

70        Criminal Justice Reform

74        Climate Change

116      Health Coverage

119      Election Reform

131      Commercial Agriculture