The Importance of Elections: Origin and Continuity

Leaders, as generally understood, are chosen in different ways, presently effected by way of voting. As it is generally known, such a choice is known as an election.  Other than an election, leaders can be appointed by way of inheriting their jobs, as well as by lot, but the fairest method is by election on which  the United States and most other countries must rely. The elections that are talked about nowadays are those of government officials, but there are other kinds of elections, such as the Roman Catholic Church,  elected by the College of Cardinals, schools, trade unions, business associations and social clubs.

Origin: Election is a very old way of choosing leaders in government. It began in ancient Greece, as well as in the Roman republic, more than two thousand years ago, when people were governed by kings and  lords, whose leadership in government was considered as a right of birth.  Other groups were also elected, representing the interests of the populace. But such groups had wielded little power, not significant enough to be effective. 

In the early days of the United States, not every citizen could participate in elections. Many states formulated their own rules and regulations, making it mandatory that people who were not citizens were not permitted to vote.  There were also certain provisions that prevented  poor people to vote. The rules were further reinforced to include the necessity of owning property before a person was allowed to vote, but such an unfair provision was later summarily changed.  The Civil War made it possible for Negro citizens of the United States to vote.  The U.S. Constitution was amended in 1868, giving Negroes the right to vote.  Yet another amendment in 1920, allowed women in the U.S. to vote for the first time.  In this respect, the U.S.  was considered to be far ahead of other countries in giving the vote to women.  In Japan, women were not allowed to vote until 1945.  Today, women vote in most of the civilized countries of the world, the voting age varying from country to country.  As it is widely known, there are primary elections held prior to regular elections.

Direct Election:  In the U.S., voters vote for candidates running for office, such as Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.

Indirect Election:  Voters vote for representatives who will, in turn, vote for candidates running for office. The President and Vice President are elected by indirect election, through the Electoral College.  In many countries, the heads of governments are elected indirectly by members of the senate or parliament.  In France, the premier is elected by members of the National Assembly, much like the U.S. House of Representatives.

A citizen’s vote is a secret.  It is called a ballot, used all over the civilized world.  Secret votes are indispensable.  It acts as a protection from threats and intimidation.

Electoral College:  This is a group of people that actually elect the President and Vice President of the United States.