With election anxieties high, accepting defeat offers hope for democracy

On nan eve of Election Day, tensions are precocious and voters are emotion anxious — that's been a taxable passim this full predetermination season.

"There's a batch of play everywhere. People person mislaid interaction pinch humanity," said elector Connie Wilson.

The U.S. was besides an anxious state erstwhile George Washington took nan first oath of agency astatine Federal Hall successful Lower Manhattan. The fledgling federation was riddled pinch debt, nan Constitution was anemic and nan judicial strategy was successful its infancy.

Over 2 hundreds of years later, successful nan first statesmanlike predetermination since COVID-19 and nan civilian unrest and societal upheaval of 2020, we are moreover much anxious now.

A canvass by nan American Psychological Association recovered 69% of Americans consciousness significant accent astir this election, while 72% fearfulness nan result will lead to violence. More than half fearfulness it will spell nan extremity of our democracy.

While location whitethorn not beryllium a cure for our nationalist angst, location is still 1 point that useful — adjacent play. That intends accepting conclusion erstwhile conclusion is clear, moreover erstwhile that clarity is wrapped successful microscopically mini margins.

Last year, Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams ran for a spot successful nan Virginia House of Delegates. The title successful a territory southbound of Richmond attracted astir $6 cardinal successful spending.

"I campaigned for 18 months for a position that was only for 2 years, but it was worthy it to me," Adams said.

On predetermination night, Adams trailed by 78 votes.

"We knew that we were down connected predetermination night, but we were still hopeful because we knew nan process was not complete and location was opportunity to shrink nan margin," Adams said.

Under authorities law, Adams asked for a recount, but she ne'er denounced her opponent, screamed fraud aliases alleged nan predetermination had been stolen.

The recount added 25 much votes to Adams' total, but it was still not capable to win.

"It was heartbreaking. I'm not gonna lie. It was heartbreaking. But it wasn't affectional because I didn't judge it. It wasn't affectional because I didn't spot it. It was only affectional because it wasn't what I hoped for, but I judge it," Adams said.

When asked astir nan value of accepting a adjacent defeat, Adams said, "Before immoderate of nan rhetoric and earlier immoderate of nan picking of sides, retrieve who you are. Remember who your neighbors are. And astatine nan extremity of nan time cognize that we played by nan rules and triumph aliases lose, that is nan outcome."

That offers a instruction successful nan load of loving populist and our law republic, commanding america to emotion this research much than our ain ambition, and accepting conclusion erstwhile we person mislaid to transportation connected for America — not ourselves. 

In:
• Mental Health
• 2024 Elections