The National Federation of State High School Associations recently tabulated debate ballots from 32 states, Washington D.C., the National Speech and Debate Association, the National Debate Coaches Association 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 2019-2020 national high school debate topic. The five topic areas were ranked 1-5 with the two topic areas receiving the lowest totals –Arms Sales and Nuclear Strategy – placed on the final ballot. On January 10, 2019, the NFHS will announce the preferred topic area and resolution.

In addition to the NDCA, NSDA and NCFL, the following states returned ballots:

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

ARMS SALES

Resolved:         The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.

NUCLEAR STRATEGY

Resolved:            The United States federal government should substantially change its nuclear weapons strategy.

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:

76        Arms Sales

106      India

110      Middle East

104      Nuclear Strategy

143      Treaties