Clearly, at the top of the list is abolishing the anachronistic and undemocratic electoral system. As a holdover from a period which disdained an inclusive representative democracy, the electoral college must be eliminated. To realize the goal of one person, one vote, we need to insist by demonstrations and other means that the present electors recognize the validity of the popular vote. Certainly, the AFL-CIO, Jesse Jackson, NARAL, and all those other organizations and individuals who browbeat Nader supporters into voting for Gore should turn their energy into mobilizing their constituencies into rallying around the demand of "one person, one vote." Instead of waiting around for recounts and technical challenges, progressives should mobilize and swarm Congress with demands to end this archaic electoral system.

Other electoral reforms seem to cry out for recognition as a consequence of this crisis. First of all, establishing an instant runoff voting system similar to that in operation in Ireland and Australia would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference and guarantee that those voting for a third party candidate could express their second choice. In a close election, such as the presidential vote in Florida, Nader's voters may very well have provided the margin of victory to Gore through such instant runoff voting. Moreover, third party supporters would be better able to vote both their conscience and their strategic concerns in close elections. Even more equitable is to move beyond a "winner-take-all" political system to one where proportional representation would give third parties, even those with as little as 5%, a voice in the government. Most democracies around the world have such a proportional system and manage to engage a much greater percentage of their citizens in elections.

Of course another key factor in excluding people from elections is the inconvenience built into the voting procedures in most states. Instead of the 6 states which now have same day voter registration, this should be extended to all 50 states. Moreover, all states should either move to a mail ballot, as Oregon has done (with one of the highest voter turnouts as a consequence) or establish a two day holiday for voting as Italy has. In Michigan the Republican Governor was incensed that the UAW had negotiated a day off on election day, especially since it undoubtedly led to the upset of the incumbent Republican Senator from Michigan. With a voter turnout still hovering around 50% and making the US 139 out of 163 democracies on turnout, we need to look for more inclusion rather than more restrictions.

Another key to reversing the restrictive political system is to enfranchise ex-prisoners and immigrants. Given the racist unfairness built into the criminal justice system and the drug war, it is no suprise that African-American men are losing their citizenship rights in massive numbers. It is estimated that close to 30% of African-American males were ineligible to vote in Florida because of alleged criminal convictions. Throughout the South in particular, such disenfranchisement mirrors the segregationist policies of the past and undergirds the Republican control of the South.

Another exclusionary structure especially evident in this election cycle was the two-party dominated Commission on Presidential Debates. Set-up to exclude third party candidates, Ralph Nader was even denied access to the site of the debates in Boston and St. Louis. In turn, the media conglomerates reinforced this exclusion through their own corporate financial barriers. We need real debates with multiple voices and parties aired as public service.

Of course, the most corrupting and corrosive influence on the political system has been corporate financing. Dominating both parties, corporate money and lobbyists have help enact legislation helping big business and harming the average American. Apparently close to 3 billion dollars was spent on this election cycle. Not only does this undermine fair and inclusive campaign competition, it further erodes the democratic ethos of society. Real public financing of campaigns is one obvious response.

On the other hand, in order to revive that democratic ethos and build a deep democracy into American life, we cannot wait for token reforms to be handed down by a remote political elite. We must take this moment to turn a political crisis into an opportunity to promote a democratic agenda. Whether through teach-ins on campus or mobilization in the streets, democracy can only be fashioned for the interests of the people if the people take an interest in democracy. And now is the time when that interest is on our side. If all those who believe in democracy fail to take advantage of this moment, we will only have ourselves to blame for the continuing erosion of our democratic life.

Fran Shor teaches at Wayne State University. His e-mail address is: f.shor@wayne.edu

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