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US electoral system isn’t always pretty, but it is open, engaging and key to America’s success

James Zimmerman says though imperfect, America’s electoral system has worked well for over 200 years and allowed the country to prosper

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Supporters of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wait to hear her speak at a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo: Reuters

Several recent editorials in the Chinese media have taken the view that the US election process is confirmation that American-style democracy is corrupt and scandalous, and would never work in a country like China. The unease is reasonable without a better understanding of the underlying principles of our system of choosing our leaders. Simply put, our electoral system is an exercise in public discourse, transparency and civic engagement.

The US is making a mockery of democracy, and China must be loving it

First, our election process allows Americans to express their legitimate anxieties about their future. Indeed, candidates of different ideological stripes can advance a diverse menu of policy ideas to influence the direction of the country. This public discourse allows voters to participate in shaping the discussion concerning America’s future.

Second, our system is open, allowing voters to receive and digest information from a variety of sources to make informed decisions. There will always be tribal voters that follow the party line, but most voters take their obligation seriously and will weigh the information available to them when making decisions.

Women gather outside Trump Tower to protest against presidential candidate Donald Trump’s treatment of women, after he was heard in an old audio clip bragging about groping women. Photo: AFP
Women gather outside Trump Tower to protest against presidential candidate Donald Trump’s treatment of women, after he was heard in an old audio clip bragging about groping women. Photo: AFP

Women protest outside Trump Tower, incensed by candidate’s groping boasts

The exposure of the candidates’ past bad behaviour is a direct result of the transparency driven by our press freedoms that allow the media to unearth details and hold candidates for office to high standards of personal character and experience.

The transparency of the system can also expose the shortcomings of a populist candidate that seeks to merely inflame the anxieties of voters without proposing workable solutions for complex problems.

For better or worse, the openness of our political process allows even the most brazenly unqualified candidate to pursue office

Without question, the system can result in ugly altercations that even we Americans find revolting. The bluntness of the process is even more telling in today’s world of real-time social media.

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