Like all Americans, I can't wait for a final count with regard to our Presidential election. In the past, we have always had an answer to this question the night of the election, but this year, due to multiple factors, it is essential that the process takes the time it needs to be honest and accurate.
What created this situation?
First, we have a raging pandemic in the United States that has already killed more than one quarter million people since March. With this pandemic, comes a large number of safety measures that have been put in place to protect us from the pandemic virus. As we all know, these pandemic measures slow us down somewhat with regard to completing tasks.
Next, this is the first time that many in our nation have greater options as to how they can vote. People in many states had the chance to vote early and either mail in or drop off their ballots at ballot boxes. Many also had the choice to vote early at polling stations. And, as usual, people could choose to go to their polling booth on election day. The fact that votes were rolling into counting centers in a variety of ways throughout a lengthy period of time led count-the-vote leaders in each state to update systems to count the votes with accuracy, transparency, and care.
Systems in each state differed somewhat with regard to spaces, timelines, staffing, and schedules. In some states, laws prohibited them from counting votes that came in early. These states, like Pennsylvania, had to wait until election day to start counting votes. Other states were able to count early votes prior to the election day. This differentiation created a situation where the voting results were revealed with different timelines. Some states completed their counting by election night and other states are still counting several days after election day. This differential has created some angst amongst candidates and the public who are anxious to know the final results.
Also, the fact that many people had the chance to vote early by mail, at polling centers, and via dropping off their ballots at ballot-boxes, created what seems like a bit more error on behalf of voters who may have not completed all necessary sections of ballots or followed all procedures accurately. States have a variety of ways to respond to ballots that may not be complete or accurate, and to deal with these ballots takes time and attention.
Further, this is a very tight election. The total votes for each of the main candidates are very close, and that makes every vote counted more important than at other times. With differences in totals falling into the thousands and tens of thousands, each candidate is very concerned about the accuracy of the vote. This has led to lawsuits which have led to greater scrutiny and detail with regard to the counting process.
And, unlike any election in the past, one candidate, the current President of the United States, is irrationale and seeming mentally challenged. This candidate is spewing insults, threats, conspiracy theories, and anger. He appears to either misunderstand the process and numbers or is simply choosing to spread bogus lies and misinformation about the process which is inciting his base in frightening ways. This fear mongering, threats, lies, and conspiracies are challenging good process since many of his gun-toting supporters are congregating outside of counting centers which I can only imagine is slowing down the process since their presence creates fear and worry amongst the vote-counters.
There is also the issues related to delayed postal deliveries. It appears that there may have been a deliberate effort to slow down the mail to obstruct the mail-in voting process. I have to do more research about this, and it is likely that authorities will study this carefully to figure out the truth of the matter.
To rush the vote at this time would be a poor choice as accuracy matters--the votes have to be counted with accuracy, care, and oversight. To rush this vote may mean that inaccuracies would occur as we all know that haste makes waste and stress causes mistakes.
The United States is a huge country. When you think about it, it is amazing how well this voting process has gone. We are meeting a number of new situations with regard to the process this year including a raging pandemic, new public health measures, a number of new ways to vote, a need to respond systematically to the variety of ways the votes are coming in, some error due to the new processes, and an errant, angry, ignorant, violence-inciting, conspiracy-spreading President of the United States.
When you consider all the factors involved, you realize that patience is necessary. To wait a few more days to figure out who won the electoral college vote with accuracy is in the best interests of the country. We would not want to move ahead before we have an accurate idea about who is the winner, and then, once we know, it is important to support the process of transitioning from one administration to the next.
Patience is a virtue, a virtue we can practice and elevate during this Presidential election.