Every election cycle, scores of people bitterly debate the results of the election – especially when their favored candidate or political party didn’t win. These debates can, and often do, spill into calls to have the results of the election overturned or challenged on questionable grounds. While it is true that questioning the election results can provide an outlet for the heated political passions of the moment, what is often overlooked is the fact that this kind of behavior is actually worse than simply accepting the results when it is clear that one’s side lost.
To begin with, attempts to overturn an election ignore democratic norms and undermine the legitimacy of the democratic process. This is especially true when the reasons given for challenging the results are of a questionable nature. By relying on flimsy evidence or wild assertions, motions to overturn an election are more indicative of a normative desire to win, whether through rules or cunning, than a sincere inquiry into the election’s veracity.
Moreover, such actions also cause instability and undermine the integrity of the election system. When the results of an election are questioned on overly-emotional or insufficient grounds, it casts doubt on the election as a whole, creating an environment of uncertainty and confusion. This can lead to people losing faith in the election system, making it more difficult for the eventual winner to garner public support or acceptance.
Needless to say, these are far from desirable outcomes and should be avoided, particularly when they are based on a transparent attempt to reverse the results of an election. Studies have shown that the quickest and most effective way to dissipate contentious election claims is to recognize the results and to accept when one’s side lost.
Trying to overturn an election because one’s favorite party didn’t win is not only damaging to the general welfare of the body politic, it is also in direct contradiction to the values implicit in our democratic order. In the end, it may be hard to accept when one’s side loses, but it is certainly better than trying to overturn the elections based on faulty rhetoric. Political passion may be part of the election process, but responsibility and respect for the electoral system must prevail.
Every election cycle, scores of people bitterly debate the results of the election – especially when their favored candidate or political party didn’t win. These debates can, and often do, spill into calls to have the results of the election overturned or challenged on questionable grounds. While it is true that questioning the election results can provide an outlet for the heated political passions of the moment, what is often overlooked is the fact that this kind of behavior is actually worse than simply accepting the results when it is clear that one’s side lost.
To begin with, attempts to overturn an election ignore democratic norms and undermine the legitimacy of the democratic process. This is especially true when the reasons given for challenging the results are of a questionable nature. By relying on flimsy evidence or wild assertions, motions to overturn an election are more indicative of a normative desire to win, whether through rules or cunning, than a sincere inquiry into the election’s veracity.
Moreover, such actions also cause instability and undermine the integrity of the election system. When the results of an election are questioned on overly-emotional or insufficient grounds, it casts doubt on the election as a whole, creating an environment of uncertainty and confusion. This can lead to people losing faith in the election system, making it more difficult for the eventual winner to garner public support or acceptance.
Needless to say, these are far from desirable outcomes and should be avoided, particularly when they are based on a transparent attempt to reverse the results of an election. Studies have shown that the quickest and most effective way to dissipate contentious election claims is to recognize the results and to accept when one’s side lost.
Trying to overturn an election because one’s favorite party didn’t win is not only damaging to the general welfare of the body politic, it is also in direct contradiction to the values implicit in our democratic order. In the end, it may be hard to accept when one’s side loses, but it is certainly better than trying to overturn the elections based on faulty rhetoric. Political passion may be part of the election process, but responsibility and respect for the electoral system must prevail.
