Election Day Event (4 Nov 08)

Honorable Ministers and Members of Parliament,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen good evening.

First of all let me thank you all for joining us on this momentous occasion.  Since arriving in Sierra Leone, I have had the pleasure of witnessing the inauguration of your President and the successful local council elections.  I am so happy to be able to share our pride in the Democratic process as you have shared yours with us.

This election is unique for several reasons.  First of all, by tomorrow morning we will either have the first woman Vice-President elect or the first African American President elect.  Either way, it will represent a huge step forward for the United States in terms of respect for our diversity. 

There are a few other notable achievements in this election.  The voter turnout, predicted to be over 60%, is likely to be the highest turnout in a Presidential election in decades, with special interest from new voters, young voters, and independent voters -- about ¼ of registered voters in the United States are politically unaffiliated.  In fact, some of you may not know that Senators Obama and McCain are not the only two individuals vying for the seat of President.  In fact, the United States has a strong tradition of third party candidates representing alternate political philosophies.  In this election, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and others are busy campaigning alongside the Democrats and Republicans.

Over the past year or more, Americans have reinvigorated the electoral process, and that can only be a positive sign in a democratic country.  We have a record number of Americans who went to the polls early this year since they could vote at post offices, boards of election, and even at toll booth drive-ins and banks!  Advances in technology and infrastructural planning have caused many states across our nation to open polls in advance of Election Day to ensure that every American has the opportunity to cast his or her vote.

We are truly proud to see record numbers of youth participating in this election as voters and activists.  As the future of our country, young people have a very important role to play.  Those eligible to vote have become a force to be reckoned with during the campaigns, and even those schoolchildren who are not yet voters have taken the opportunity to become educated and involved in our civic process.

Our program today will provide each of you the chance to learn about the unique aspects of our democratic process -- the Electoral College chief among them.  The most important message we can take from this exhibit is the importance of unity despite a diversity of political values and beliefs.  Our candidates differ on many issues that will affect not only Americans in the next four years, but citizens all over the world.  In the end, though, regardless of how divisive the campaign has been, on January 20, 2009, the 45th President of the United States will be inaugurated, and he will be the President of every American citizen.  Any disputes over the election results will be handled through our judicial processes and through our balance of powers, and we will remain a unified country.

I am pleased to invite you to learn, to watch the television coverage of Election Day, and to linger in our video room, where we will be showing informational programs on different aspects of the elections.

Thank you again for coming, and enjoy the program.