Most of us are taught, from childhood,
that voting is the essence of democracy. Is this so? Or, is voting
simply the least we can do to participate in our sociopolitical
system? What, in our electoral system, works, and what doesn't? Is
this system imperiled? How can we best respond to bogus claims
regarding election outcomes?
Peaceworks doesn't endorse,
support or oppose candidates for office, but we do educate the public
as to the issues, as well as electoral process. Some of the concerns
we have include:
* The role of money in politics. Court
decisions have equated spending to speech, which has allowed
literally billions to be spent to win office, much of it undisclosed
regarding source. Sophisticated marketing often shifts the outcome,
especially in close races.
* The flawed winner-take-all
electoral process. Plurality-wins electoral laws can
disenfranchise those with minority views and interests. This is
exacerbated by gerrymandering. Our system could be much more
representative if we had proportional representation or ranked choice
voting.
* Limited availability of the initiative process.
While better than 80 percent of Missouri voters recently put the
kibosh on efforts to effectively eliminate direct democracy through
initiative, we are likely to see other attempts here in Missouri and
elsewhere. And, presently only half the states in the union allow
this sort of democratic participation.
* Limited voting
times availability. While many states have expanded voting days
and/or hours, many have not. No states that we are aware of have
declared election day a holiday with time off. And it is rare that
that employers are required to provide paid time off to vote.
*
Limited access to voting by mail along with restrictive
time-frames for receiving mailed ballots. The current administration
has called for eliminating mail-in voting entirely, except when
in-person voting is not possible due to health concerns, disability,
etc.
* Restrictive ID laws. There is a push afoot to
require birth certificates or passports as voter identification. Some
would require names on the IDs to match birth name which could
disenfranchise those who've changed names due to marriage, gender
transitioning or other reasons.
* Intimidation.
Citizens, non-citizens and mixed status families are being subjected
to the abuses of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) We are
deeply disturbed by reports of physical assault, murder, being held
incommunicado, being held under inhumane conditions, and being
deported, including to countries that they have no connection to, and
countries where they might be tortured or otherwise harmed. It is
understandable, therefore, that this has a chilling effect on many
who are citizens and have the legal right to vote. This is clearly
voter suppression that disproportionately favors one major party.
* Threat to intervene in the voting and/or tallying of
ballots. Worst case scenarios could involve the declaration of
martial law or the invoking of the Insurrection Act to allow the
cancellation of the election or the seizure of ballots and the
presentation of false “results.”
What is to be
Done?
The answers to this question fit into two
categories, personal action and political action.
The former
focuses around making certain one is registered at their correct and
current address, and that one has required ID to vote. Second is
becoming informed as to where the candidates stand and what's in any
ballot issues. And finally, making a plan to vote, making sure one
knows where they'll be voting, what the hours are, and if postal
voting is preferred, what the mechanics are.
Political action
falls largely into the camp of supporting campaigns with financial
and/or volunteer support. One can also encourage others to get
involved; one-by-one we make social change. If anyone says “I work
on issues, not elections,” one can point out that voting usually
takes less than a half hour. Two or three times a year. And, even if
one is not thrilled with the options on the ballot, there are real
and very significant differences that affect all of us and our
progeny; those who will inherit the world we leave for them.
