Technology in a Democracy

Ours is a democratic and republican State. Although known as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people we, in fact, directly vote for our President, our Senators and Representatives.

There are some limitations with respect to this right of suffrage such as voter qualifications, registration, and exercising it within a designated period and times.

In Presidential elections, the Electoral College System is used where each State is allocated a number of electoral votes based on population.

While the popular votes are counted, the electoral votes are what really count. Since we follow the winner takes all system, the electoral votes go to the winner in the popular voting in a given State.

In many democratic countries, it usually takes days if not weeks to find out the results of Presidential elections.

In yesterday’s elections, America and the world found out the results as projected by the networks as early as 11:12 p.m. (EST), which is only 12 minutes after the closing of the polls in California and other Western States.

In fact, I wrote in my Facebook status update at 11:03 p.m. election night:

“At 11:03 p.m. 11/6/12: I now project that President Obama wins reelection!”

Then I followed it up later with another Facebook update:

“There is beauty in Mathematics or as former President Bill Clinton said Arithmetic. Since childhood, I was exposed to the value of MDAS - Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction (My Dear Aunt Sally) by my late father; my late Uncle Venancio Maynigo (Mathematics professor); and my late first cousin Jesus Maynigo Casanova and his late wife Luz (both my Arithmetic teachers).

From them I learned to love and appreciate reading, analyzing and interpreting numbers. I also loved hearing stories as told by the numbers. Last night, as I analyzed the numbers reported by CNN's John King, NBC's Chuck Todd, and other sources, I was tempted to project Obama's victory at 10:13 p.m. but resisted it. I thought that I should at least wait for the closing of the polls at the most populous State of California (55 electoral votes). 

In a status update here on Facebook, I am very proud to have projected Obama's re-election at 11:03 p.m. last night. NBC News projected the same at 11:12 p.m. - the first among all networks. 

We've got the numbers! We knew how to count. Wasn't that nice?”

I also reported how the minorities voted in the 2012 Presidential elections, which was as follows:

Blacks - 93% for Obama; Latino - 71% for Obama; and Asians - 73% for Obama.

Filipinos were counted mostly as Asians; but some could have been easily identified as Latino by their last names and culture; and also some as Blacks by inter-marriage or even by color of skin (tall, DARK, and handsome). :):)

Filipinos can claim victory and credit in so many ways. Isn't that neat?

The numbers really tell good stories. But what makes this really more amazing and exciting is the technology that brought about the numbers and the democratic election stories.

Indeed, the role of digital technology in the democratic processes in the recently held Presidential elections cannot be underestimated and should be greatly appreciated.

Computers were everywhere in the voter registration process. Digital broadcasting and news reporting, blogging, social media through Twitter and Facebook and other forms of cyber communications kept the public informed and updated.

In my last Facebook update on the Presidential elections prior to this column I wrote:

“I did not sleep until I heard Romney's concession and Obama's victory speeches. Listening to both, I went to sleep full of hope. Romney conceded with so much grace in defeat offering prayers for bipartisanship, cooperation and less bickering in solving the country's economic, social and political problems.

Romney fought a great fight! Together with his wife, Anne, his family, campaign staff, and the Republican base, they ran an efficient, effective, and competent campaign. Although his campaign fell short, he obtained more popular votes than Reagan in 1980 and 1984; more than Bush I (G.H.W.) in 1988; more than Clinton in 1992 and 1996; and more than Bush II (G.W) in 2000. Romney should be proud of such a stunning achievement. Under different circumstances, he could have been President. Fate did not allow it but his Faith and his God must have destined a different role for him.

President Obama plans to sit down with him to discuss what they could do together. Following the Lincoln example, Obama reached out to his political enemies. He did it to Hillary Clinton (and Bill) and to Robert Gates (Defense). I have no doubt that he will reach out and work with Romney.”

Cyber and Information Technology provided me almost instant data regarding the popular votes obtained by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

RONALD REAGAN:        1980 – 43,903,230; 1984 – 54,455,472

GEORGE H.W. BUSH:      1988 – 48,886,097

BILL CLINTON:              1992 – 44,909,806; 1996 – 47,401,185

GEORGE W. BUSH:          2000 – 50,456,002

The popular votes obtained by Romney as of this writing with some still to come was 56,145,950.