Election should not be postponed

The general population’s ability to vote and choose its
elected representatives is what makes this country so great.

Why? It means the people make decisions on issues that affect
them, including jobs, education and representatives. The people get
to elect one important representative in particular ““ the
president, a person who can seal America’s fate with the wave
of a magic ballpoint pen.

But the right of electing representatives is being challenged.
Your right to a voice is being challenged. Your right to liberty is
being challenged because the presidential election may be postponed
in the event of a terrorist attack.

Railway bombings earlier this year in Spain, just before the
Spanish general election, have signaled that no country is safe
from terrorism, especially during a pivotal time. As these bombings
were successful, U.S. officials have concluded a similar incident
could occur on American soil.

They argue postponing the election would leave stable the
presidential administration, making it able to respond to an
attack. According to Brian Roehrkasse, a Homeland Security
spokesman, “We are reviewing the issue to determine what
steps need to be taken to secure the election.”

Yet shouldn’t we be more concerned about how to prevent a
terrorist attack in the first place? This is what the Bush
administration should be working toward rather than trying to
postpone the very heart of what makes our country democratic.

If the Department of Homeland Security still can’t prevent
terrorist attacks, it should be concerned with carrying out the
election even in the event of a terrorist attack. The world does
not get the impression America does not give in to terrorists by
allowing them to control our democratic process.

Never has the United States delayed a presidential election
““ not even during the Civil War. California Sen. Dianne
Feinstein (D), a Senate Intelligence Committee member, said,
“I don’t think there’s an argument that can be
made “¦ to delay an election (without precedent).”

And what ensures that the postponement would only last for a
short period of time? This may seem far fetched now, but if the
election is prevented once, it can be prevented again. After all,
America constantly is bombarded with terrorist threats.

Others around the world do not have the right to vote. Americans
are fortunate enough to have this right and to make a difference
due to the countless number of men and women who throughout
American history fought for the right to vote.

The election is, then, the greatest symbol of our dedication to
democracy and people’s rights. The definition of individual
rights constantly changes because people care about their place in
society. People are concerned about issues and public policy. And
people are concerned about who becomes president. We should not be
so willing to postpone our right to vote.

The presidential election is not just about who becomes
president; it embodies America’s core values.

Stotland is a fourth-year communication studies and
political science student.