In today’s world, the election process has been quite different in recent years. Commonly, an election is known as a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. However, the election process is quite more than that. From the initial call for nominations through preliminary reviews and announcing the slate of candidates, the election process is a significant process that defines what democracy is and at times this could leave us in question as to how trustworthy the election process is. With incidents not so far behind us, such as the 2021 January Capitol Hill insurrection that put a halt to the presidential electoral voting count, I'm sure this has made many question faith and confidence in the election process.
With many young adults now eligible to vote and those soon to be eligible, we have to raise the question of whether they have faith and confidence in our democracy's election process. We asked four individuals, “Do you have faith and confidence in the election process?” With a brief response, these answers could change someone's perspective on the election process.
First we asked Tyren Boyd, an Indianola native, a high school junior with honors, and a youth influencer the question. In response, Tyren said, “Quite frankly, no. I think the election process has been rigged to suit the needs of those in big business and people with power and money to sway votes in their favor. Also, the Electoral College should be thrown out and votes should rely strictly on the American people. The power of our democracy should only be in our hands. We won't change, and even when we vote, it’s still hard to provoke it. America has serious work that needs to be done, and one day at a time, we can do it. It takes a team of people with a vision and a drive of determination to get this done.” Tyren isn’t an eligible voter yet, but when he does become eligible to vote he’s assured us that he’ll make it his duty to exercise his right.
Eugene Pearson, an Indianola native, a high school junior with honors, and youth minister of Saint John Missionary Baptist Church also answered the question with a sense of pride. “Being that I’ll be an eligible voter soon, I am very confident in the election and voting process. I’m sure that our city, state and country will do everything accordingly and correctly when it comes down to the many imperative elections that are coming up this year and forward. However, with some states attempting to make it harder for some people to vote, that leads me to become a little skeptical about the people who are in these positions and their own personal values and perspectives. Nevertheless, it is always something that needs additional work or further observation, and voting is indeed one of them,” said Eugene.
Ta’Mariana Clark, an Indianola native, a high school junior with honors, and activist also had something to say in response to the question. “As an American citizen, I have realized that the American government doesn't give any reason as to why we should have faith or confidence in its election process. The most obvious reason would be the Electoral College. I'm told that my vote counts, but why is it that our vote is indirectly disregarded and designated to my state electors? I've also noticed that most election processes are rarely executed with integrity, but are just a way that cunning and greedy individuals become closer to power and money. Faith in America and all of its processes have steadily declined because America has shown that it cares more about power over specific groups than about its country's overall integrity. I have no faith and confidence in America and its election processes because America has shown me time and again that my vote doesn't count, and that the great land isn't just about ‘liberty’ or ‘integrity’ but a yearning desire to be rapacious and self-centered,” said Ta’Mariana.
LaKyla Tenin of Sledge, a high school junior with honors and youth influencer, was thrilled to answer the question. LaKyla said, “No, elections can very easily be rigged. Politicians and many others will put people whom they see fit in power. It’s imperative that people are chosen meticulously to fit the role they are running for. However, I feel as long as the candidate is more for business than the people of America, or knows someone of higher authority, they will get elected whether it was fair or not. So, no, I don’t have much confidence in our election process.”
The election process has been around roughly since the 1700s and has been used for everything from the business level, municipal level, state level, and of course, the national level. Without faith and confidence, it causes one to lack the courage to do anything and, in this case, it will cause one not to even take part in voting. The law does not require citizens to vote, but voting is a very important part of any democracy. By voting, citizens participate in the democratic process. After reading some of the local youth’s perspectives, has your perspective changed on the election process? Do you have faith and confidence in the election process?
