Could the US learn something from Ukraine's Orange Revolution Elections?
Conscience Callsis a fulfilling, enjoyable read, the narrative of which is accompanied by photographs that illustrate Ukraine's election proceedings December 2004. Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna, along with her husband, volunteered to act as an eutral election observer (along with 2,000 other international citizens) to provide another wall of defence against those who would see Ukrainian vote counts unfairly tipped in favor of one candidate or another.
From an American perspective, Conscience Calls really reveals inherent flaws in the US system and how simpler might be better when it comes to casting votes. The Ukrainian election was, on the surface, unsophisticated. Two candidate's names graced the paper ballots, which were, once one candidate had been chosen, placed into clear ballot boxes. All were given an opportunity to vote - even the home-bound, hospitalized, and incarcerated. In the US, there have been increasingly apparent warning signs with regards to Diebold machines, vote caging, and seemingly deliberate wrenches thrown in the works of an election process that is supposed to be straightforward and fair.
After reading Conscience Calls, it's clear to me that the US should implement a system of neutral election observers - even international ones. Maybe even Ukrainian ones. After all, if a nation that was oppressed under totalitarianism can get it right, why can't one of the longest-lasting democratic nations in the world?
