AfP Statement on 2020 U.S. Elections: the Imperative for Peacebuilding at Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 9, 2020

CONTACT

Linda Zheng | (202) 822-2047 | Linda@allianceforpeacebuilding.org

Photo Courtesy of Monica Curca, +Peace

Washington, D.C., USA –  The basis of American democracy is that voters choose who is elected as the next President of the United States. Even during the pandemic, Americans turned out in record numbers to make their voices heard and support a free, fair and peaceful democratic process. The Alliance for Peacebuilding congratulates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their historic victory – a watershed moment marking the election of the first woman and first woman of color to the United States’ second-highest office.

Election officials all over the country worked long hours, night after night, to support the integrity of the democratic process. Many are still working to verify, count, and in some states, recount every lawfully cast ballot. The voting and counting process has been transparent with Democrat and Republican accredited observers working side by side, and international observers finding no evidence of systemic irregularities. This is the democratic process at work. We are grateful for the Americans who worked around the clock in the middle of a pandemic to ensure our voting process was transparent and fair. 

While there were some attempted voter intimidation incidents, voting at the polls on November 3rd was uneventful and proceeded smoothly. When unruly crowds began amassing at some counting centers, law enforcement worked with communities to defuse the crowds so the counting process could proceed.

However, this process is not over, and as the vote-counting process continues, we urge all leaders to call for calm and patience and ensure every lawful ballot is counted and if ordered is recounted. It is vital to #CountEveryVote, respect the right to make legal challenges, and, above all, respect the will of the people.  While freedom of speech is a fundamental right, all leaders should respect the process, refrain from unsubstantiated allegations, and not incite violence.  Once voters have made their voices heard, the peaceful transition of power, one of the cornerstones of American democracy, must be upheld.

Last Saturday, President-elect Biden called on a deeply divided nation to come together to unite and heal. To do so, the new Administration must act swiftly to address the causes of conflict and violence. In the coming weeks, months, and years the task of uniting a deeply divided nation and addressing the significant and unprecedented challenges, including the pandemic, systemic racism, gender inequality, high unemployment, and rising polarization, will be challenging. 

The Alliance for Peacebuilding and its members are already working to mobilize against oppression, undo institutionalized racism, advance criminal justice reform across political divides, prevent violence within communities, call for comprehensive policy responses from law enforcement to education, and offer trauma healing  to communities in need.

While this work is happening, it is not enough. Just as we advocate for integrating U.S diplomacy and development assistance to prevent violent conflict abroad, AfP believes the United States needs an urgent, coordinated multi-sectoral peacebuilding approach to address the causes of conflict and violence at home. We will continue to strongly advocate for this approach with the next Administration.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------With over 130 member organizations, AfP brings together the largest development organizations, most innovative academic institutions, and influential humanitarian and faith-based groups to harness collective action for peace. We build coalitions in key areas of strategy and policy to elevate the entire peacebuilding field, tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.