The results are in: How do Griffons feel?
Missouri Western students and faculty weigh in on the recent historical record-breaking presidential election.
The United States presidential election took place on November 3, with the Democratic ticket, composed of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris, claiming victory over sitting President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Political Science professor Dr. Edwin Taylor hosted a livestream with History professor Dr. Dominic DeBrincat and Political Science professor Dr. Jonathan Euchner to answer questions students and audience members had about the election.
While the livestream took place the day after the election, many questions eligible voters have can remain unanswered even after elections have ended, such as questions about recounts and voting rules.
“Civic education doesn’t end with Election Day,” Taylor said.
Among the many topics Dr. Taylor discussed in the livestream, the most common questions he received were about the Electoral College. Questions about how the Electoral College works, who the electors are and where the electors come from inspired Dr. Taylor to do the livestream.
“The Electoral College maintains a systematic approach to picking the president and vice president even to this day,” Missouri Western student Kendall Reger said.
The Electoral College is a small group of 538 individuals tasked with electing the President of the United States. Each state homes a certain number of these electors based on its population.
Projected President-Elect Biden won the recent election by procuring the state of Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes. With 99% of votes counted, Georgia could swing left by a mere 13,000 votes, potentially adding another 16 electoral votes to Biden’s total.
“Georgia flipping blue is, even if it is by a very narrow margin, is a compelling narrative,” Taylor said.
With a history of voter suppression, politicians in Georgia ensured voting rights were set in place prior to the presidential election.
“It is important to mention individuals like Stacey Abrams who mobilized huge amounts of voters for the Democratic Party,” Rieger said.
Stacey Abrams is a Democratic politician who narrowly lost to Republican Brian Kemp in the 2018 race for governor of Georgia. Since then, Abrams has continued to play a major role in voter registration and turnout in her home state.
“She was responsible for helping to register up to 800,000 new voters in Georgia,” Taylor said.
Recently, many have called for the disbandment of the Electoral College. This has been a divisive topic since Al Gore won the popular vote in the 2000 election but lost the presidency to George Bush who garnered the electoral votes. The cycle repeated again in 2016 when Hilary Clinton won the popular vote against President Trump.
“To completely change the way we elect the president would require a Constitutional amendment,” Missouri Western Student Max Miller said. “It would take some serious political maneuvering to accomplish.”
The Electoral College is written into the United States Constitution under Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 and 3. Until the United States government has developed a clear plan for voting, Reger thinks it is best if the current system is left alone.
“With no clearly defined alternative, I think that for now the current system is essential for fair and just elections,” Reger said.
Although the Electoral College does officially elect the president, they are widely influenced by voter outcomes. Citizens in the United States saw a record-breaking voter turnout. Among the 240 million Americans who were eligible, over 161 million citizens were motivated to vote either at their local polling stations or by mail, which enticed around 65 million voters.
“What motivated people to go vote varied widely from person to person,” Miller said. “That ranged from racial justice, climate change, healthcare and, of course, the coronavirus.”
Like Missouri Western student Engoma Fataki, many citizens believe it is their sacred right to vote and will take advantage of the democratic action. Along with over 6 million people, Fataki voted for the first time in 2020.
“People vote because they have a responsibility to their families, friends, and community to ensure that they vote for the person they know will lead the country to a more hopeful, promising, and prosperous tomorrow,” Fataki said.
Reger notes that special circumstances also contributed to increased voter turnout. These circumstances that ranged from opinions on societal issues to laxed regulations on mail-in voting due to COVID-19 affected millions of Americans.
“This election was personal to a lot of individuals from both parties,” Reger said. “When Americans are directly affected by a particular issue or candidate, they are more likely to vote.”
With projected President-elect Biden winning the presidential bid, many citizens are left wondering what the President-Elect will be doing to quell the number of COVID-19 cases. Miller has many ideas for how projected President-elect Joe Biden will handle the ongoing pandemic.
“I believe President-Elect Joe Biden’s first policy initiatives should be solely focused on the current pandemic gripping the nation,” Miller said.
President Trump has chosen to take a hands-off approach to dealing with the pandemic. Many believe his lack of action has greatly contributed to an increased number of cases throughout the past several months. President Trump himself eventually contracted COVID-19, along with his wife, youngest son and many of his cabinet members.
“President-Elect Biden will take a more hands-on approach to the virus compared to President Trump’s more laissez-faire approach,” Miller said.
Fataki also believes that policies and action regarding the COVID-19 pandemic will take precedent.
“The immediate attention to reducing or eliminating the spread of pandemic will give them momentum to take on different policies,” Fataki said.
Additionally, handling the ongoing pandemic is not the only issue Griffons believe should take precedence. Reger mentions how divisive issues, such as the protests, must be recognized and handled.
“Joe Biden’s first policies should be centered putting an end to institutional racism,” Reger said. “The past four years have left wounds on all sectors of this country, and it is important that we begin healing as a nation.”
Overall, Griffons are eager to watch how the next four years will unfold under a new presidency.
