THE ELECTION OF 2020: WHAT LESSONS HAVE WE LEARNED?

As I write this column, the outcome of the 2020 presidential election is still unclear. Races in states such as Pennsylvania and Arizona have yet to be called. The narrow path to victory — whether it belongs to President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden — means a lot of hard work ahead, to unite a divided country.

Still, there is much to cheer about. According to Michael Mcdonald of the U.S. Elections Project, this year’s vote tally will easily exceed 150 million, a participation rate of more than 66 percent. In 2016, just under 139 million people voted. Americans also took to early voting with zeal: More than 100 million of us cast ballots even before Election Day.

And we can celebrate the fact that in-person voting on Tuesday proceeded without the long lines, equipment failures, and widespread intimidation attempts that officials feared. The slowness of the ballot count is also a positive development — a sign that every voter’s voice is being heard.

So, at least when it comes to voting, it appears that Americans managed to outmaneuver a host of obstacles — including the coronavirus.

I asked members of the Union-tribune’s Community Advisory Board and staff at the National Conflict Resolution Center what lessons they learned from this peculiar election.

Here is some of what they had to say:

1. “The old saying goes that people are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. Well, in 2020, people do have their own set of facts, and they only listen to narratives that reinforce their opinions, biases and worldview. As an electorate, we have a duty to become better informed — including the consideration of different and even uncomfortable ideas.”

2. “Armed with ‘alternative facts,’ (a phrase coined by former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway) friends of mine make different voting decisions — and not because they have different values or goals. That can be frustrating. Information can be wildly different depending on which source we trust. How will we ever be able to make good decisions if we can’t even agree about the basic facts of a situation?”

3. “Here’s the truth about the adage ‘all politics are local’: It’s even smaller than that. All politics are personal. There is nothing I can do about the daily chaos at the national level. Those issues are beyond my reach. Instead, I should pay attention to the people, needs, circumstances and realities that confront me directly — and then hope and pray that what I do is enough, and that it ripples forth to have broad effect.”

4. “When something is an issue and creates a rift in a relationship, exercise the humility to take a second look. Have the empathy and compassion to step aside from arguing a point and focus instead on your deep care for the other person. When we operate in debate mode, it can be hard to realize the harm we are causing, especially when a person feels their identity and values are threatened. Once this relational line is crossed, returning can be difficult.”

5. “Political parties need to focus on the needs of the people, and not the needs of the parties, in order to preserve voter confidence. Voting should not be a matter of survival, but rather, an expression of liberty. Disruption of our political process is needed so that citizens can turn to a neutral organization that is trusted to give us not just the candidates’ pros and cons, but the unfiltered consequences of their positions.”

Here is a sixth lesson: We must do even more to diversify our slates of candidates, at all levels of government, to better represent the population at large. White people, who make up 60 percent of the U.S. population, hold 78 percent of congressional seats. Women, on the other hand, are underrepresented: They make up 51 percent of the population, but only 24 percent of Congress.

It’s usually about money. According to Opensecrets.org, 521 candidates in House and Senate races this year raised $100,000 or more (of 857 candidates who raised any money at all) — a figure that’s legitimate, but not considered enough to win a race. The average amount of money raised by candidates in primary races was $1.4 million, prior to their victory. And generally, candidates of color — especially women — come up short.

We can always do better. Yet, in this election, our citizenry was engaged and voted in record numbers. And our states did their part, ensuring that every ballot was counted. So, for now, let’s celebrate — and then catch our breath for the ride ahead.

Dinkin is president of the National Conflict Resolution Center, a San Diego-based group working to create solutions to challenging issues, including intolerance and incivility. To learn about NCRC’S programming, visit ncrconline.com