2008 Woodie Awards
Election critiques must take place at home, abroad
Jonathan Gair
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: OpEd Page
Today's primary election holds a special importance for Ohio and Texas and what will be the make-or-break point for the Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) campaign. Despite the tense campaigning, the student activism and the huddling around TVs to watch the debates, today marks a major voting landmark-not just for Democrats, but also for the students here voting for the first time. Last-minute pushes by candidates to gain the upper hand before the polls open in the morning translate to a buzz on our campus that resonates throughout the entire community. However, regardless of today's result, the significance of the ability to vote should never be understated.
Sunday marked the end of President Vladimir Putin's direct control of the Kremlin with the overwhelming victory of his hand-chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev-the current chairman of Russian energy giant Gazprom and an individual who is expected to be more open to understanding Western policymaking and posturing than the former-KGB agent Putin. While, the day after the vote, liberal groups were allowed to protest the election results in St. Petersburg, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (which did not observe this election after the fiasco of Russian attacks at the organization surrounding the December parliamentary election) and a European Union mission of 20 observers both confirmed that the election was neither "free nor fair."
In Africa, November's elections in what used to be hailed as the crowning jewel of democracy on the continent erupted into steeped ethnic violence when political groups disputed the outcome of the presidential race. Last month, Serbian elections swept into power the more moderate choice and coincided with a sovereign push by Kosovo to become independent. Regardless of the moderate in power, Serbia has been rocked by protests-even the destruction of the U.S. embassy in the country-because of their government's inaction over the Kosovar movement.
While our election will not result in the type of domestic upheavals experienced in various flashpoints around the globe, our civic duty should not be taken lightly. It would be a mistake to say that our elections are fully open and free for all our citizens. The 2000 and 2004 elections saw specific sections of the population-typically low-income, minority groups-taken advantage of in swing states and discriminated against. It is difficult for the highest levels of our government to argue against what we perceive as flawed elections in other states when we cannot ensure the equal protection of rights in our own.
Today, stories have revealed the economics behind Diebold-makers of Ohio's electronic voting machines-and their attempted takeover by United Technologies. If the initial reports of Diebold's inaccuracies were not an indication enough to state and federal officials that the private sector should not be involved in any part of running elections, then the fact that these business decisions are even an issue should be the final straw.
It is never too early to raise these questions of ensuring fair votes for our citizenry, and hopefully the movements that have been started throughout this primary season continue to grab the interests of all types of voters regardless of today's victor. We live in a delicate time when democracy doesn't come cheaply-we shouldn't take our own for granted.
Sunday marked the end of President Vladimir Putin's direct control of the Kremlin with the overwhelming victory of his hand-chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev-the current chairman of Russian energy giant Gazprom and an individual who is expected to be more open to understanding Western policymaking and posturing than the former-KGB agent Putin. While, the day after the vote, liberal groups were allowed to protest the election results in St. Petersburg, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (which did not observe this election after the fiasco of Russian attacks at the organization surrounding the December parliamentary election) and a European Union mission of 20 observers both confirmed that the election was neither "free nor fair."
In Africa, November's elections in what used to be hailed as the crowning jewel of democracy on the continent erupted into steeped ethnic violence when political groups disputed the outcome of the presidential race. Last month, Serbian elections swept into power the more moderate choice and coincided with a sovereign push by Kosovo to become independent. Regardless of the moderate in power, Serbia has been rocked by protests-even the destruction of the U.S. embassy in the country-because of their government's inaction over the Kosovar movement.
While our election will not result in the type of domestic upheavals experienced in various flashpoints around the globe, our civic duty should not be taken lightly. It would be a mistake to say that our elections are fully open and free for all our citizens. The 2000 and 2004 elections saw specific sections of the population-typically low-income, minority groups-taken advantage of in swing states and discriminated against. It is difficult for the highest levels of our government to argue against what we perceive as flawed elections in other states when we cannot ensure the equal protection of rights in our own.
Today, stories have revealed the economics behind Diebold-makers of Ohio's electronic voting machines-and their attempted takeover by United Technologies. If the initial reports of Diebold's inaccuracies were not an indication enough to state and federal officials that the private sector should not be involved in any part of running elections, then the fact that these business decisions are even an issue should be the final straw.
It is never too early to raise these questions of ensuring fair votes for our citizenry, and hopefully the movements that have been started throughout this primary season continue to grab the interests of all types of voters regardless of today's victor. We live in a delicate time when democracy doesn't come cheaply-we shouldn't take our own for granted.
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