DEPARTMENTS – November/December 2008

Upfront—Voting For Virginia

As A Candidate For Presidential Elector, I'm Reminded Of The Commonwealth's Importance In Civil Political Discourse.

By Michael Jon Khandelwal

Virginia has 13 electoral votes, and whichever party's candidate wins the popular vote in Virginia—that party sends its slate of 13 electors to the Electoral College to vote in December. Eleven of each party's slots are filled through elections at the parties' congressional district conventions, and the other two spots are filled at their state conventions.

Virginia has traditionally voted Republican; the last time Democratic electors cast their vote for president in the commonwealth was in 1964.

I've always had an odd fascination with the Electoral College. This year, I was a Barack Obama delegate to the state Democratic convention, and I thought it might be fun to run for one of the state-wide elector positions.

During the convention's first evening, I started speaking with people. I tried to have conversations with them instead of just asking for their vote the next afternoon and probably spoke to more than 200 delegates that first night. Someone told me: "you're the first person who's running for something who actually listened."

The next morning, I attended a breakfast where I met more folks. A friend with the Young Democrats told me he'd spread the word, and I asked the chairs of the Hampton Roads delegations for their support. I was encouraged, and thought if I could make the top five, it would be a real accomplishment.

After many great speeches, they handed out the elector ballot with 34 names. After the voting, they announced a run-off between the top four vote-getters, because no one received at least 50 percent of the votes—and I was in the top four. A woman who had participated in the tally told me I was not one of the top two vote-getters, so I'd better get out there and campaign again.

As our four names appeared on a big screen, I didn't know what to do, so I sprinted up and down the aisles, stopping every third or fourth row to make a quick pitch. In less than 15 minutes, I spoke to more than 2,000 people.

I ended up winning one of the two state–wide slots.

Most of the time, it turns out, electors don't really do anything except hope to be elected in November and then go cast their vote in the state capitol in December. I thought, why not change that; after all, the ballots say, "Electors for ... " and that means it's really we that are running—a fact that was confirmed to me when I was told that I couldn't help run the election in Norfolk this time, because I was considered a candidate.

Being an elector created an opportunity to not only support my candidates, but also help educate people about the Electoral College. I set up a website: www.VirginiaElectoralCollege.org, which offers real information on the College, on voting, our candidates, and on each of our electors. I hoped to dispel the idea that the Electoral College is composed of a group of secret officials hiding out in smoke-filled back rooms. In fact, we're your neighbors—artists, businesspersons and students.

I've been talking to people and the media through the campaign season, and in October, I appeared on Cathy Lewis' radio show, HearSay, on WHRV 89.5 FM. I was joined by Republican 2nd District Elector David Nygaard.

Speaking with David before, during and after the show, I was stuck by how similar his story was to mine, and how he shared my desire to strive to make Virginia—and our nation—a better place. We discussed the need for civility and camaraderie in politics, and how we, as candidates for the Electoral College, should do all we can to bring respect to our respective parties and candidates.

No matter our political leanings, we are all part of a conversation that will determine our path to the future, and I'm encouraged that here, it seems we are taking this responsibility with the same seriousness the Virginia founding fathers brought to the creation of our nation.

Of course, I would appreciate your support and your vote, but on Nov. 4, whether you support me and the Democratic electors, David and the Republican electors or another party's slate, know that we all view our candidacies with great humility and respect. As voters, you shouldn't expect anything less.

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