The News Editorial: Election lessons

I learned several things leading up to, during and after this year’s General Election.

•First, many people truly do not understand the election process, know the Constitution or state statute.

Many people do not realize that municipal, county, state and federal offices are sworn in, in the new year. They do not take office right after the election.

Some special districts, such as school districts, swear in newly elected members to begin serving in December.

Perhaps I know this information based on the numerous elections I have covered during my newspaper career. I wonder though shouldn’t people realize that more officials are sworn in, in January and not right after an election. The presidential inauguration is always in January, Jan. 20 to be specific (except if it is a Sunday).

Why do people assume people take office right after an election?

•Second, I learned while I have never endorsed a candidate as an editor, some people feel it is important. The question of newspaper endorsements came up across the country more than it seems on any other election. Several national newspapers opted not to have their editorial board’s endorse a presidential candidate, including the Washington Post. Post owner Jeff Bezos said endorsements create a perception of bias, as reported by CBS News.

In my career I have never worked for a newspaper who endorsed candidates nor have I wanted to endorse a candidate, local or for president. It has been a time-honored tradition, but tell me for those who voted, would an endorsement from a national publication sway your vote? Would it make you wonder about the reporting bias of that newspapers staff?

I feel it is our job as a newspaper to inform the voters, which we did through stories and profiles of candidates. I feel it is important for you to make an informed decision. I do not need to tell you who to vote for, nor do I feel that is my job.

I have no problems with the Post, and other newspapers backing off of endorsements. Some staff members took it into their own hands and wrote columns about who they would endorse or who the editorial board was going to endorse. (FYI, smaller newspapers such as the Northern Wyoming News do not have editorial boards.) They lost subscribers, which is ironic considering many years ago an editor in Greybull endorsed local races and the public was irate that the editor would tell them how to vote.

Ultimately, on Tuesday, the people had the final say, as it should be.

•Third, Washakie County was a highlight in results on election night. Our Washakie County Clerk staff is one of the most efficient, especially in the Big Horn Basin, having reported the results first in the Basin, in both the primary and general elections. Kudos to Clerk Lily Rakness Parra, her staff and all of her election judges.

We are thankful things ran smoothly here as reports from Weston County are not as positive.

Per a story from the Newcastle Newsletter Journal, an error from the clerk resulted in votes not being counted in the legislative race, although it did not alter the outcome. NLJ News Editor Alexis Barker reported that on Election Day, initial results showed Rep. Chip Nieman with 166 votes and 1,289 under votes. After a recount, Nieman actually received 1,268 votes with 166 undervotes. The number of write-ins also changed from 8 to 29.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray stepped in and insisted that the “county canvassing board undertake a review of the ballots to determine accurate counts prior to certification of official results to our office.” 

•Fourth, I learned that this presidential election has probably divided our country even further. I can’t believe the number of people I saw on social media say they would “unfriend” anyone who voted for Donald Trump.

Seriously?!

I get not liking the guy and not wanting to vote for him, but ending friendships and possibly family ties over an election? That is something I do not understand.

My husband and I do not agree on everything politically, we do not vote for the same people. We have been married 25 years. I am OK with him having an opinion, even if it may be wrong (just kidding).

Many people were not thrilled with the choices on the ballot. In Wyoming, there were 4,690 write-ins and undervotes for president, that’s nearly the entire population of Worland. People were wanting different choices and when they are not on the ballot they either write in someone or do not cast a vote in that race.

•Fifth, another lesson I believe we learn from this year’s presidential election is that women will not vote for a woman just because she is a woman and that does not make them horrible people. I thought we learned that in 2016 but just as we heard then I heard it again that women should vote for Kamala Harris because she is a woman. This year some took it a step further asking men to prove they were not misogynists by voting for a woman.

Again, seriously?!

People, in this free country, should be free to vote for whomever they want, for whatever reason they deem necessary. It should be based on safety, economy, health, welfare, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It should not be based on race, ethnicity, gender, your friend’s belief, your husband’s belief, your family’s belief, your coworker’s belief, or because you are threatened whether on social media or in person.

•Finally, I learned people still believe in the process of voting and we had a great turnout across the state with people exercising their right to vote. Gray reported that 271,043 ballots were cast across the state in Tuesday’s General Election, up from 198,198 in the 2022 General Election.

Despite the challenges in this election and what will likely be challenges in future elections, may we always exercise that right and never take it for granted.