Society and individuals advertise for their candidates in the US

Washington, Nov. 2, GNA - One recent phenomenon that is creeping through political campaigns in the United States of American is advertisement by individuals, organisations and societies to promote their candidates.   Unlike the 2008 presidential elections where social media such as “Facebook” was the main medium of campaign by political parties particularly the Democrats, this time round advertisement of all sorts dominate the contest for the presidential election on November 6.   This came out when the 11 West African and Ethiopian journalists toured federal agencies and some private organisations to acquit themselves with their functions and responsibilities.   Mr. William Buzenberg, Executive Director, Centre for Public Integrity, an investigative journalism body in the US capital, said he was not enthused about the development questioned the factuality of messages put across by these societies and individuals. He said though individual level of investment in this year’s elections was high, “It only goes to affirm their positions and beliefs and not exactly the realities on the ground. Some are indeed misleading”.   Dr. David Alexander, Assistant Director, Centre for Design, methods, and Analysis of the US Government of Accountability Office, said unlike other countries, the US election system was highly decentralized with authority being shared by federal, state and local officials.   The states are responsible for the administration of their own elections and federal elections as well as regulating the various aspects of the electoral process.   Dr. Alexander said the primary responsibility for managing, planning and conducting elections resided locally with about 10,500 jurisdictions nationwide adding that the Federal government has grants to aid local authorities in conducting their own elections.   He said about two million poll workers were needed nationwide for the federal elections  adding whiles some are paid by appointing political parties others are volunteers.   The US citizen could either vote through a paper ballots lever machines, punch cards, optical scan or direct recording elections machines. Early or absentee and provisional voting was also allowed under the system.   Dr. Alexander mentioned major issue regarding the 2012 elections as voter identification requirement adding whiles 31 states have requirement for all eligible voters to show identification card, 11 states specifies identification cards with the voter’s photograph.     From Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA special Correspondent in Washington DC, Courtesy of US Embassy... Read Full Story