If you don’t live in the United States of America (US), you may not be aware of today’s significance. Today we have the privilege to make our voices heard as we head to the polls and make a choice that will affect our lives for at least the next four years.

I am normally not one to make political statements on such a public platform. But I really didn’t figure too many people in the US will be interested in reading much about scrapbooking today. Therefore, I thought I’d offer my thoughts on what many believe is one of the most historic elections in our country’s history.

Voting

Every four years registered US citizens have the opportunity to choose a different president for our country. It is an important right, ne’er I say duty, for US citizens that is oft times underappreciated. But the honor of voting is not as straightforward as it might seem.

The election of the president and the vice president of the US is an indirect election. While the people cast ballots for those they choose for these offices (the popular vote), those votes do not guarantee that the candidate with the highest popular vote actually wins the election. Are you now saying “What? How can that be?” I know, it sounds preposterous but that’s how our Founding Father’s set things back in 1787.

The 1787 Constitutional Convention established the Electoral College in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The number of electoral votes each state (and the District of Columbia) has equals its number of Senators (2) plus its number of Representatives in the House of Representatives (varies by state). The total number of electors is currently 538 (since 1961). Of the current 538 electors, a simple majority of 270 or more electoral votes is required to elect the president and vice president.

So, does this seem fair? That’s a difficult question to answer. There are always pros and cons for just about every choice we make in our lives. So, how does the Electoral College fair…

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Good: One of the advantages is the end result is clear: Somebody wins; somebody gets a majority of the electoral votes. If presidents were elected purely by popular vote, a candidate could win the presidency with less than 50% of the vote. Again…another “What?” moment for you, I’m sure. If there are more than the two predominate parties (Democrat & Republican) contending for the presidency, we might have somebody winning with 30% of the votes, and that’s a ticket to a potentially extremist candidate.

Bad: The first problem with the Electoral College is that it gives more weight to voters in small states than those in more populous ones. Every state gets a minimum of three electoral votes. However, each state’s total allotment is based on its representation in the Senate (always two people) and the House (varies by population). So, take Washington, D.C., as an example. More people live in D.C. than in Wyoming, the least populous state in the union; but they both get three electoral votes.

Ugly: Because of all the “bad press” about the Electoral College, many people don’t vote because they believe their vote doesn’t really matter. This means the voices of countless voters are silenced when it comes to electing who will lead our nation. This is truly tragic. It is critical for everyone to make their voice heard. Even if it amounts to little in the outcome of the presidential election, an individual’s vote matters to everyone else who participates in our democracy.

Did that help clear things up at all. Probably not. To most people it still doesn’t seem to be fair. But over the past 230+ years, nearly all elections have been won by the candidate who garnered the majority of both the popular and electoral votes. There have been only five times in US history when a candidate won the presidency despite losing the popular vote. So as convoluted as it all sounds…perhaps it works.

Widespread Anxiety

Americans certainly don’t have exclusive rights to feeling anxious right now. We are witnessing the highest number of countries engaged in conflict since World War II, currently 56. They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the Global Peace Index’s inception.

The entire world is still recovering from the human and economic losses of the Coronavirus pandemic. Food insecurity is a pressing challenge, especially in developing economies. Energy prices are soaring, adding to the world’s challenges. Countries representing 60% of the global gross domestic product will be holding elections in 2024, which could lead to worldwide economic instability and political upheaval.

Here in the US both the far-left and far-right portray themselves as modern day saviors exclaiming that the other side is an existential threat to American Democracy. Each side has supporters who either take what we have for granted, believe it’s inherently evil or dismiss it as not worth saving. It’s soul-crushing.

We have many reasons to be anxious. Concerns about the fate of electoral democracy in the US. International conflicts across the globe. The state of our economy. The safety of our borders, and so much more. With so much at stake, it’s understandable that many may be feeling anxious, fearful, sad, or outright angry about the ultimate results of today’s election.

Where To Now?

America The Beautiful, a patriotic song published in 1910, doesn’t resonate with many today. Political polarization has induced amnesia amongst some of us, wiping away what is positively unique about our country and replacing it with destructive narratives about our impending doom.

No matter your political views or party affiliation, there’s no downplaying the fact that the stakes are high in this year’s presidential election. And if you’re like many Americans, knowing that probably has you feeling more than a little anxious. Polarization, vitriol and an “us vs. them” mentality have soared nationally. So how can we stay engaged and motivated to support making the world a better place, while protecting ourselves from burnout, cynicism, bitterness and hostility?

Focus on what you can control and what positive actions you can take. Vote if you are eligible to do so. I cannot emphasize this enough. This is instrumental in making our voices heard. Even if we feel as though no one is really listening. And each of us should do what we can to encourage others to also put their “voice” in the ballot box.

Separate people (and their inherent value) from their viewpoints. Especially when it comes to family and friends. We must remember, it is possible to love someone without agreeing with them or even understanding why they think the way they do. Relationships are (or should be) built on so much more than political views. We need to be empathetic. Remember times in our lives during which we believed something or held a certain viewpoint and then later changed our minds. Personal views are a large part of who we are, but they don’t define us entirely.

We live in a society that constantly exposes us to local, national, and global news, which can be overwhelming for many people. Not only that, but social media in particular can have a very polarizing effect, with algorithms that can create echo chambers of information. Taking breaks from the news and social media is completely okay, and sometimes a necessary boundary to set in order to prioritize our mental health.

Most importantly, we must remember that America did not cease to be great at the turn of the 21st Century. I believe many of us simply ceased to appreciate its greatness. We can surrender to cynicism or we can be active stewards in realizing the promise of this nation. Destiny is ours to chart.

I’m not certain of the exact moment, but somewhere along the way, America’s unbridled optimism gave way to deep-seated cynicism. Perhaps it was 9/11 reminding us that we are vulnerable. It could have been the housing crisis that made us aware that banks are not “too big to fail.” In large part I blame the 24-hour news cycle with unending vitriol, or social media that turned many into needy attention seekers lacking basic social skills. Sadly, the big dreams of yesterday seemed to give way to self-pity and blame for far too many.

I don’t want to sound unjustifiably optimistic, but America is still great. Definitely not perfect, but still great. Despite our current inflation rates, ours is the most vibrant economy on the planet and our people the most generous. We are free to worship our God as we see fit, free to share our thoughts and talents, free to try and fail, and then try again, in pursuit of a better life or a higher calling.

We have faced unique challenges for more than 200 years. We’ve survived Civil Wars, World Wars, Great Depressions, and what seems to be a never ending, slow fight for equality. Ours is a history rich with bold victories. To expect anything less during this particular moment in time is pure folly. We can surrender to the cynicism, resign ourselves to be spectators of our nation’s decline, or we can be active stewards, watchmen on the wall, of a still great nation

We are a people capable of mastering our own destiny. And if we all sign off social media, turn off the plethora of angry talking heads on television and venture out into the real world, we will see problems, yes, but also an abundance of goodness.

America is worthy of appreciation. And the fact that we willingly admit our need to continually strive to uphold the values of our country’s charter – equality for all, God-given rights, and self-government makes it abundantly clear that America is truly the greatest nation on earth.