A bitterly partisan atmosphere, rumors of foreign election interference, voter suppression of women and people of color, armed citizens prepared to use force to start civil war, a 10-week wait caused by the popular vote recipient tied in the Electoral College: it all makes for a daunting election year. Imagine a president chosen in the 36th ballot achieved by a negotiated outcome.
Wait, that’s not this election, that’s the election of 1800. Thomas Jefferson presided over the first peaceful transition of power in the United States after a long, ugly electoral process that nearly ended our democracy.
It is important to remember that our democracy did not end. It persevered and evolved as all living things do.
Every election, especially a presidential election, is considered a high holy day by the League of Women Voters. It is our all-consuming, nonpartisan effort to register voters, present candidate platforms, conduct forums, and inform voters on the various methods in which they may vote. It is exhausting and exhilarating.
At the stroke of 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford’s website ceased to be an election authority site and became...an Electoral College Authority site. The electors vote in their states on Dec. 14 and the 117th Congress doesn’t count the electoral vote until Jan. 6. For every election, the full count is never complete on “Election Day.” Only a statistical presumption is made.
Thank you to the many voters inspired to engage in this precedent-setting election. Regardless of party or views we can agree that voting is a fundamental pillar of our democracy.
Don’t worry, have patience. Democracy is at work.
I’m Janie Wilson-Cook, and that’s my Perspective.