On Elections, a Three Part Series: Part One: Democracy and Elections

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Troy Chavez
April 5, 2024

“We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy.” (Speech at the New York Ratifying Convention, June 21, 1788) – Alexander Hamilton

Voting…a hallmark of democratic society. It is our duty as citizens to vote whenever possible. However, democratic societies do not always make it easy for citizens to do so. People are disqualified and other voting populaces confined to geological prisons (Gerrymandering). Why do “free societies” inhibit free flowing elections? Shouldn’t we make it easier to vote? Not everyone agrees. And in a few cases, some should not have the right to choose our nation’s leaders. Nevertheless, constricting people’s right to vote is suppression—no ifs, ands or buts. We must make voting streamlined. Currently, the American voting system is very patched and fractured. Is that its strength or weakness?

The American people, in 2023, have already expressed their concerns with the electoral system and prefer utilizing the popular vote. “Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults (65 percent) say the way the president is elected should be changed so that the winner of the popular vote nationwide wins the presidency,” said Jocelyn Kiley in a Pew Research Center article titled “Electoral college, term limits, age limits, voter ID, size of Congress and Supreme Court.” This illustrates deeper frustrations with the system overall. The electoral college determines each presidential winner. But why doesn’t the popular vote?

Harkening back to the founders, we find weariness of mob mentalities. Which is why the electoral college initially manifested. When the nation was created, no other country directly elected their executive/president. The paradoxical issues of skepticism towards democratic “mobs” and fear of tyrannical rule, eventually led to the electoral college’s creation. A compromise was born out of these dual-edged anxieties.

Additionally, our system allows for states to choose the “Times, Places and Manner” of local and national elections, according to Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. So, we must always view elections as a local phenomenon. Therefore, the following is an interview with Tim Tsujii, Elections Director for Forsyth County, NC. His perspective on voting security to the process itself echoes counties across the nation. What should voting look like in future elections? Does the current system support the continuation of free and fair elections? What needs to change?

Those who find themselves in government often find themselves seeking ways to serve the public. Tim Tsujii is the epitome of this. His passion for government stems from high school where the city manager came to speak to his class.

“I run the city” said the city manager. He of course was joking, but this sentiment enamored him. The idea he could make a direct impact on his community energized his passion for government. After graduating from George Washington University in Washington D.C., he wanted to find “anything” he could in government. He began lobbying but quickly discovered his enthusiasm for local government outsized the messy world of policy making.

“I’m a doer,” he said. “There is a difference between theory and practicum.” And after scoping around his local community in Greensboro, NC, and discussing job opportunities with acquaintances, he found a position in elections. The rest was history.

Mr. Tsujii and I discussed myriad issues on elections, from the nitty gritty to the abstract. Most people believe government officials like Tsujii are master manipulators and manifested by the “deep state.” But government and politics, yes, are attached, but they are not identical. The act of legislating differs from the act of governing.

“I am a by the book type of person,” said Tsujii. This is how most administrators operate. “I follow the letter of the law.” Administrators must follow the law as written, and if they deviate from it, then they are negging on their constitutional duty. Administrators are human, but that doesn’t mean they have full autonomy. This is a huge misconception and is demonstrated in his motto: “Voter service is greater than customer service.” Meaning, the act of voting is not simply a transaction, it is a duty we uphold as citizens under a democratic government. “There is no price tag on that.” We are not just buying bread, as he puts it, we are choosing leaders to run the country and are determining important issues pertinent to our daily lives.

The mechanics of public administration are important, but the reasons why we safeguard democracy are paramount. Me and Tsujii discussed these points in depth.

“We are the front line of democracy,” he said. He is correct. Without voting, we no longer live in a free nation. The job of administrators like Tsujii are to be bulwarks of democracy. And since 2020, election denial has elevated and caused directors like Tsujii to quit. The front line of democracy is at war with conspiracy theorists. This is partly because most do not think of the mundane operations occurring day-to-day – and the care administrators put into their work. We will discuss this further in the next article, and in my series discussing elections administration, since we are in an election year, and much is at stake.

I have spoken on the importance of why we vote, which is the heart and soul of democracy. But we must know how the system works and how safety and security is taken seriously by election directors like Tsujii. My next column will go in depth on the mechanics of elections and how the process varies across the nation and why he says Forsyth County is a top tier region for elections management. 

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Author: Troy Chavez, M.P.A. is a PhD candidate at Liberty University with a masters in public administration and works in government doing community relations. He can be reached at [email protected].

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