eternal vigilance
Oct. 28th, 2004 09:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
electriclandMorning all!
I have had great long screeds running through my head for days, but I'm at work, so I'll keep it short. This one's for all my American friends.
Here in Canada, we have a non-partisan federal agency, Elections Canada, that's in charge of running elections and accountable to Parliament. It ensures that our elections are free, fair, and run the same way across the country (our ballot design, for instance, is set by an Act of Parliament). We also have a Commissioner of Elections, who you can complain to if you think there's a problem. We find this works pretty well.
For a variety of reasons -- mistrust of government bureaucracy is a big one, but there are others -- you don't have a similar agency, so how an election is conducted seems very much up to the local authorities. When everyone involved is of good will, this works fine. However, as you know, there have been a number of stories already about election shenanigans (and not all on one side either --![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
texaslawchick posted a disturbing story a couple of days ago).
jmhm has posted a long piece from MoveOn that you should really go read. The important links from it are here:
Election protection card
Find your polling place
Know your rights
On November 2, please vote. Please encourage your friends, family, neighbours, co-workers to vote. And please be vigilant -- watch for any signs of intimidation, deception or whatever else that might interfere with the democratic process.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't care who wins this election (although -- or especially because -- as a Canadian, I don't get a say). But I care more that it should be free and fair. If either candidate wins as a result of dirty tricks, vote stealing, intimidation, or any other shenanigans, I will be outraged and upset and angry and sickened and dismayed and frightened. Presidents come and go; democracy is very fragile. If this election is stolen by either party, America really will have lost something important, and I don't know if you'll be able to get it back.
What I'm getting at here is: Your government isn't equipped to ensure a free and fair election. Sadly, many of your politicians and their staff don't seem to be interested in having one. So it's up to you. Tell your friends. Please, please do everything you can to make sure that everyone votes who is eligible to vote, and every eligible vote is counted.
I have had great long screeds running through my head for days, but I'm at work, so I'll keep it short. This one's for all my American friends.
Here in Canada, we have a non-partisan federal agency, Elections Canada, that's in charge of running elections and accountable to Parliament. It ensures that our elections are free, fair, and run the same way across the country (our ballot design, for instance, is set by an Act of Parliament). We also have a Commissioner of Elections, who you can complain to if you think there's a problem. We find this works pretty well.
For a variety of reasons -- mistrust of government bureaucracy is a big one, but there are others -- you don't have a similar agency, so how an election is conducted seems very much up to the local authorities. When everyone involved is of good will, this works fine. However, as you know, there have been a number of stories already about election shenanigans (and not all on one side either --
texaslawchick posted a disturbing story a couple of days ago).jmhm has posted a long piece from MoveOn that you should really go read. The important links from it are here:Election protection card
Find your polling place
Know your rights
On November 2, please vote. Please encourage your friends, family, neighbours, co-workers to vote. And please be vigilant -- watch for any signs of intimidation, deception or whatever else that might interfere with the democratic process.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't care who wins this election (although -- or especially because -- as a Canadian, I don't get a say). But I care more that it should be free and fair. If either candidate wins as a result of dirty tricks, vote stealing, intimidation, or any other shenanigans, I will be outraged and upset and angry and sickened and dismayed and frightened. Presidents come and go; democracy is very fragile. If this election is stolen by either party, America really will have lost something important, and I don't know if you'll be able to get it back.
What I'm getting at here is: Your government isn't equipped to ensure a free and fair election. Sadly, many of your politicians and their staff don't seem to be interested in having one. So it's up to you. Tell your friends. Please, please do everything you can to make sure that everyone votes who is eligible to vote, and every eligible vote is counted.
