CHENNAI: U.S. Consulate General, Chennai hosted Election Watch programs in Chennai (Taj Coromandel), Manipal (Fortune Inn Valley View), and Trivandrum (Asian School of Business) to celebrate democracy in action by inviting Indian guests to watch the 2012 Presidential election unfold on November 07, 2012, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Millions of Americans went to the polls today to vote, and they have reelected Barack Obama as their President. One thing is clear: with each passing election, Americans reaffirm their commitment to democracy by the people, and for the people.
Speaking through Digital Video Conference from New Delhi, U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell said, “Election Day in America, like in India, is a very special day. Ours is the oldest democracy in the world, and of course India’s is the largest. Friends and neighbors in America will have made their way to polling places all across the country to cast their ballots. Some go early on their way to work. Others wait until the evening. Tens of thousands of election volunteers will have spent their day welcoming voters, checking them in and handing them the ballot, or directing them to machines. On the way out of the polls, many will be offered a small sticker that says “I voted,” a subtle message to others they see later in the day. It is not a message about who they voted for, but a message of participation – a reminder to others that we the people have a responsibility to participate in our democracy.”
Highlighting the significance of elections in a vibrant democracy, U.S. Consul General, Chennai Jennifer McIntyre remarked, “Most importantly, today all Americans celebrate our individual role in the democratic process. Today, millions of Americans are taking time out of their busy schedules to exercise their right to select our President and national and local representatives. But our responsibilities as U.S. citizens, whether we are in America or overseas, do not end on Election Day.”
She said, “I am really excited that on this Election Day we are able to share our U.S. democratic process with you, citizens of India – the world’s largest democracy. As we all know, democracies are only as strong as its participants. So it’s incumbent on all of us as citizens to not only participate in our elections, but be active contributors to our democracies every day.
“And regardless of the outcome of the U.S. election, India will remain a major strategic partner of the United States. While U.S.-India relations have been expanding for half a century, in this last decade, we have seen exponential growth in the cooperation between our two nations — cooperation supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations.”
Noting that the U.S. and India are working more closely together than ever before, she said, “Our government to government, business to business, and people to people dialogues cross almost every field of human endeavor. And most importantly, we see our people-to-people links — the anchor in our relationship – increasing with greater travel and exchanges between the citizens of our countries.”
The Election Watch programs in Chennai, Manipal, and Trivandrum included live election coverage on big screens; analysis and results from international TV feeds; an electronic tally board with an up-to-the-minute Electoral College vote count; a mock polling booth where guests could vote for their favorite candidate; displays of books and pamphlets on the U.S. elections and library membership information; photo opportunities with life-size cutouts of the Presidential candidates; Facebook sign up; remarks by U.S. Consulate officials on the election process; celebrity guests speaking on the impact on India of a new administration vis-à-vis foreign policy, business relations, and bi-lateral relations; and quizzes on American Presidents at regular intervals.
Consul General McIntyre also presented prizes to the winners of the U.S. Consulate General Chennai’s election video contest entitled “A Campaign, A Video, A Vote.”
For more information on U.S. elections, please visit our Elections 2012 page: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/us_elections_2012.html
