US Election: Women group advocates structural changes in American democracy

A US-based nonpartisan political organization, League of Women Voters, has charged the would-be successor of President Barack Obama to undertake a structural review of American electoral processes. The league’s director in Miami-Dade County, Annie Betancourt gave the charge while briefing a group of foreign journalists in Miami, Florida. According to her, the long period of […]

A US-based nonpartisan political organization, League of Women Voters, has charged the would-be successor of President Barack Obama to undertake a structural review of American electoral processes.

The league’s director in Miami-Dade County, Annie Betancourt gave the charge while briefing a group of foreign journalists in Miami, Florida.

According to her, the long period of election, the influence of money in running for offices, and the process through which parties nominate their candidates should undergo serious restructuring.

Betancourt said this is necessary to allow more people participate in politics especially the women, noting that politics is male-dominated.

“Regardless of the outcome of the election (who wins next week), this country needs serious political structural changes.

“Why? Our election processes is too long, the influence of money in election is too big and of course, whoever gets elected next week will have the ability to appoint members of the Supreme Court Justice. And who knows what could happen, like the case of Citizens United which allows money in politics,” she said.

It would be recalled that in 2010, the United States Supreme Court held that freedom of speech prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by a profit and non-profit corporations and labour unions.

The Citizens United ruling drastically re-shaped the American political landscape in its relatively short life span.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is a U.S. constitutional law and corporate law case, which allows corporations and labour unions to spend unlimited funds on direct advocacy for or against candidates.

“The other issue with the Supreme Court is the voting right act,” said Susan Windmiller, the league’s president in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

“We already know that across the country and about 17 states different laws were enacted in those states to supress the votes.

“People talk about voter fraud. Voter Fraud, in US does not occur to ballot box, it occurs to public policy, where you restrict certain people of having access to voting,” she added.

Windmiller said the league teaches young Americans the right to vote during polls and the need to make the right choice in casting their ballots.

Though the league is women-based, she said this did not necessarily mean campaigning for all women vying for elective positions but to encourage voters to access the qualities of the candidates.

“We are always teaching people the right to vote because your vote is your voice. In our democracy, the power is the vote, not the gun. That is what we are educating the first-time voters.

“You don’t just vote for someone because she is a woman. You need to examine the candidates’ experience in governance and their capability to deliver on electoral promises,” Windmiller said.

The League of Women Voters was founded after 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle. The league said it aimed at educating women on to how to vote and other issues.