The Election of the Privileged
Published in Gazet van Antwerpen
(Belgium) on 3 November 2008
by Suzanne Van Roosbroeck (link to
original)
The Bradley effect - the 'social desirability-effect that makes the polls unreliable - was known already, but the closer we get to election day the more we are confronted with disaster scenarios.
Time
In addition to problems that are to be expected with the voting apparatus and the shortage of voting tickets, there is an additional problem that can shake the election outcome, time.
During the early voting it turned out that waiting times can be as much as 8 hours. If this is the case tomorrow then these elections will become the 'elections of the privileged' because many voters will not accept these waits.
Disaster scenario
Who can cough up 20% of his wages to vote. In the news, one disaster scenario follows the another. It is obvious that many are anxious what will happen tomorrow.
Time
In addition to problems that are to be expected with the voting apparatus and the shortage of voting tickets, there is an additional problem that can shake the election outcome, time.
During the early voting it turned out that waiting times can be as much as 8 hours. If this is the case tomorrow then these elections will become the 'elections of the privileged' because many voters will not accept these waits.
Disaster scenario
Who can cough up 20% of his wages to vote. In the news, one disaster scenario follows the another. It is obvious that many are anxious what will happen tomorrow.