It is sad that Waki did not think the three year campaign of hate from Raila and the ODM chiefs against the Gikuyu was at all significant, or that it served to whip up passions to such a level that friends saw no evil in hacking their neighbours.When you see people in prominent positions calling for a Lesotho, when you see Ngilu, Orengo and the thug himself frothing against the privilege of the Gikuyu, or telling the people that Kibaki will hand over to Uhuru and the Gikuyu will rule for ever, then you know a storm is coming.

The following three men assisted by a bunch of 207 rogue parliamentarians are destroying Kenya.

The three men are: President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Agriculture Minister William Ruto.

What, pray tell, was the Government of Kenya thinking when it declared Thursday, 6th November a public holiday?

The best way for all progressive thinking Kenyans to celebrate Obama's victory is to work on bringing political change to this country from the bottom up. To not just sit and grumble about the inanity of our political discourse and the Bush-esque tyranny and divisive stance of our tribal chieftains but to rally one Kenyan at a time towards the embracing of a new political dispensation.

The time is now to move away from the press conferences and donor driven palavers; the yelling of empty threats at politicians from the shelter of posh NGO offices, by the ‘activist-elites' and speak directly to our families and friends.

If America can, why can't we? We cannot because those who purport to preach the change gospel love to write concept notes, strategic plans, jingoistic communiques, jargon ridden country reports and Op-ed columns from here to new York City while the opponents of change are out in the field- face to face with the ‘real Kenyans- handing out machetes and vitriol.

If you love Barrack Obama, spend your public holiday tomorrow talking to Main Street- tell them that, even here in Kenya, WE CAN!

To bastardise JFK, ask not what Obama can do for your country but what you can do for it.

So then, my wish list.

1. All grandpas and grandmas that are still in office will go to their ranch or wherever else that can be called a retirement home, and take a good rest. Enjoy watching the beauty of the sun setting. If they must, they can also get up early and savour the rising of the sun. By all means keep off meddling into affairs of a country.

2. Issues. Anyone that aspires leadership should dwell on issues of the day. Like making the lives of ordinary people better. Building schools and hospitals and other good things.

3.Anyone that tells people to burn peoples property, maim and kill others so that he/she can become a ‘leader’, should lie still in their bed, never to rise again. Such a species does not deserve a single sniff of oxygen.

4. If you are not eloquent, or have tendencies to forget what you meant to say, or you tend to say the wrong thing, please go home and look after your goats. They need you more.

5. If you cannot sprint up the podium with your sleeves rolled up, please do as 4 above. Thank you.

6. If you are not good looking, that’s ok, for now anyway. But try to be well groomed. Brush your teeth and put on a clean shirt.

7. Once Obama has done his term or two, can he please come and do 2 terms for Kenya. I that heard he comes from Kenya, and he will only be 55 then. A lovely age to become a president especially in an African country!

That’s all for now.

En Colombia, muchas personas han sido indiferentes con estas elecciones, recuerdo que hace poco les comenté a unos compañeros que Obama iba bastante bien y una compañera me preguntó ¿Qué es Obama? ¿Quién es Obama? Es la verdadera pregunta, y en la respuesta la palabra esperanza se repite en varias ocasiones: esperanza de mirar de frente el problema del racismo y superarlo, esperanza de que el “gigante” de la historia ahora mire de forma más humana a los otros países, esto implica, por ejemplo, un cambio en políticas armamentistas (incluyendo las nucleares), en ese frecuente intento de aplastar a los otros países de forma militar y económica, en reconsiderar las intenciones de acabar con los recursos de países como el nuestro y retirar las tropas que acaban con la vida de muchas personas en Irák y que de una u otra forma modifican esta cultura.

Catalina Restrepo, who represented HiperBarrio at this year's Global Voices Summit in Budapest, shows an overview of how the Colombian media reacted to Obama's victory with screenshots from the largest newspapers and YouTube videos of reactions by Latin American leaders.

Todos hablan de lo importante de que por primera vez en la historia Estados Unidos tenga un presidente “Negro”, de que ahora si abrá un cambio, que su oratoria es increíble; y un júbilo se percibe en sus seguidores cada que hablan de todas sus cualidades, mientras algunos de sus críticos afirman que “es un blanco con piel de negro”.

Ruben Hilari, a Voces Bolivianas blogger who was recently featured by Eduardo Ávila on the Voces Bolivianas project blog, is currently visiting the U.S. in New York, where he watched on television as McCain conceded defeat and Obama declared victory.

Ayer en la noche miraba un canal latino, donde estaba reportando, el conteo de votos. Todas las personas estan sorprendidas de que haya ganado un afroamericano como es Obama. Todos hablan de que las personas afroamericanas no podian votar ni entrar en los mejores restaurantes aqui en los EEUU hace mas de 50 anos. Habia una discriminacion muy dura de aceptar.

Ruben was also impressed with John McCain's concession speech, which congratulated Obama for his victory. He says he wishes the same level of respect was shown when conservative Bolivian ex-president, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga lost to current president, Evo Morales in Bolivia's 2005 election.

Me hubiese gustado que Tuto Quiroga con la formacion americana que de felicitaciones a Evo cuando gano en Bolivia. Porque eso es lo que ha hecho McCain felicitar a Obama. Pero en Bolivia nunca quieren aceptar su derrota. Hace rato chateamos con mi hermano desde Bolivia y el me dice que en Bolivia esta alegre El Presidente Evo. Y hay que apoyar sigue para que continue haciendo por el pais. Creo que el mundo esta cambiando a una velocidad maxima.

Finally, in Kenya - where US President-Elect Barack Obama traces his recent ancestry - Collins Oduoduor of the REPACTED project lamented the burglary of the house of Barack Obama's step-grandmother Sarah Obama in Kogelo. Here is a brief video about Sarah Obama and her community:

Collins, recalling the attack on the US Embassy in Kenya in 1998, is worried that anti-American terrorists in East Africa will target Obama's grandmother because of her link to who is now the United States' most powerful person:

Terrorist attack is not a new thing to Kenya because of what happened to the US embassy in Kenya, but the bond between the two countries is renewed, the bond is even stronger because the grandma is in Kenya and the grandson in the US busy with is campaigns and innocently exposing the grandma to the enemy of America. 9/11 is still fresh to American people and the suspect is still at large. I hope that the enemy has not started getting ideas from the local attack. Alego ko Kogelo may be the next scene on the international and local news headlines. Ok the Kenyan government has set a police base in the home of grandma; my question is why after the local attack, what if the attack could have been from the American enemies?

As for Sarah Obama, it looks like the 84-year-old may soon be on her way to Washington D.C. to bring her grandson his favorite food as he is inaugurated president of the United States of America.

Kenyan Entrepreneur was ecstatic after the announcement:

I must say that I was in a state of euphoric shock last night as I was watching Barrack Obama’s elevation to becoming the most powerful man in the world. I told someone yesterday (as I was watching his acceptance speech) that I felt like I was going through both a physical and spiritual cleansing. It was almost like Obama was cleansing my body, mind and soul of the 8 years of toxic filth and grime that the Bush presidency had imparted on my person. It was very refreshing– like walking out of a shower full of antiseptic.

Kikuyumoja, who is Kenyan, gives his view from Germany:

Obama is much more than a candidate for the 44th presidency in the United States of America.

Wheremadnessresides ponders about Obama's acceptance speech and his roots:

I watch him sometimes, and it seems to me nigh impossible that this could be the same man who drove around Nairobi in Auma’s mechanically challenged baby-blue Volkswagen Beetle and visited his Aunt who lived in Kariokor. Because these are such typical Nairobi things to do. And he describes them so casually, so matter of factly. Then, the next thing you know, he’s President-elect of the United States of America. And it sort of takes your breathe away. As well it should.

It sends a very particular resounding message from the American people, reverberating not just through the United States of America, but right across the world: If you determine it, you can be whoever you want to be. At such a time as this, you’ve got to pay homage to the American Dream, because the American Dream is ultimately the winner of this election, perched squarely on the shoulders of an unlikely candidate with an unfamiliar name and an unusual story.

In a country drunk with political patronage, bloggers are questioning whether Kenya and or Africa should expect American policy towards the continent to change overnight.

Kenyan Pundit answers the critics:

And for those (Kenyans) who are being derisive about Kenyans trying to “own” Obama. Bah! Yes, it’s unrealistic to think that his election will change U.S. policy practically as far as Kenya goes, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Kenyans going overboard with Obama-mania and what he represents for us.

Now if only we can translate our aspirations for him to our aspirations for Kenyan leaders! Would Barack Obama have made it as a Kenyan politican (or even African) - almost certainly not…we excel in trashing intellectual, ethical, different, individuals who want to participate in public service. In Obama’s own words, “…For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.” Lets work to change this people.

Peter Njenga urges people to tone down their expectations on Obama:

People should therefore tone down these expectations and realize that Barack Obama will work with a team that includes White House advisors and the United States Senate and Congressmen. In fact, Barack Obama himself said that there is a great challenge ahead, and some goals may not be realised even within a four year term.

ColdTusker thinks that Obama is more American than Kenyan:

So Barack was NEVER a “Kenyan” in any sense of the word. He was not born in Kenya, not raised in Kenya, not a Kenyan resident nor a Kenyan citizen.

Congrats to Obama for the victory BUT why has kibz declared a holiday to celebrate Obama's win?
What of the loss of productivity for the typical mwananchi without a cushy government job?
kibz & roocy get paid whether they work or not. Not most Kenyans.

Election day in the USA was a working day for most Americans. There are no official holidays for any of the post-election days. So if the USA marks the historic occasion with a ‘working day' why do Kenyans have a ‘holiday'?

Arefe notes that Ethiopia was not exactly ecstatic about Obama victory given that he might demand more accountability and transparency. The blogger writes:

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi offered his apparently not-so-warm congratulations to Obama saying that he is “confident that the long-standing and excellent relations that exist between the two countries and peoples will continue to be strengthened during his tenure in office.”
From this anticipated cliché apart, officials and the state media have kept quite about the possible impact of new presidency on the Ethiopian political landscape.
But well-placed sources say the government is anxious that the new Democratic administration that is taking office on January might put more pressure and demand accountability from the Ethiopian government, whose commitment to democracy is nothing more than lip service.

Arisa Moraa, a Kenyan American, describes at Kenya Imagine her first US election being able to vote:

I never had the chance to engage in the voting process in Kenya because I left Kenya before I was of age. I stood by in 2007 as millions of Kenyans voted and felt a sadness at being of age to vote and unable to vote in my home country.

But then came 2008 and I was of age, and I could vote, and Barack Obama an AmeriKen (American Kenyan) like me was on the ballot. It was a chance for me to make history.. first time voting, and voting for a Kenyan. It is an incredible moment in history.

I couldn't sleep last night, and was up at the crack of dawn enroute to a polling station to exercise my privilege to vote. I was a mixture of emotions.. joy, excitement, anxiety, angst…. all at the possibility… the hope, anticipating CHANGE that I can believe in. It took an hour because there was a lot of people there, but I was excited as I checked in my federal selection.. Obama/Biden.. and the other numerous democrats I don't know. I am beyond myself… First time voter… in a historic election.. Obama IS my president!

Kumekucha describes the festive mood in Kenya, including a few photos from the celebrations in the Kogelo village:

Back home in Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki was not just among the first to send congratulatory message to the new President-elect, but he also declared Thursday November 6th 2008 a public holiday throughout Kenya. Almost everywhere around the country, Kenyans are in celebratory mood as people digest the fact that a man whom they share an ancestry has been elected to the helm of global political and economic power.

Jami ya Keniia expressed her happiness:

Kenyans share the joy with all the Americans that voted Barack and all the world that supported in one way or the other.

I like the spirit of unity and love seen as Mccain conceeded defeat and as Obama calls on Mccain to help in the management of the great America.

Many can still not believe it. A friend once said to me, when Obama was still fighting for nomination in his party, that a black man cannot make it in a [”Wasungu“] country. History is made in a day and that history for Obama, Kenya and Africa is made today.

Moses Kemimbaro comments on the obstacles overcome by Obama:

… he has demonstrated that anything is possible with the right strategy, message and execution. He has overcome what may have appeared to be insurmountable odds, starting with the fact that he is black, partly of Kenyan-origin, relatively young as a president aspirant and quite inexperienced in the Political Arena. This is exactly the sort of change and hope that the world needs. The status quo has been put to rest. Anything is indeed possible. Congratulations President-Elect Barack Obama! The world is with you in creating the change that we need!

Ory Okolloh of Kenyan Pundit writes about Obama's global popularity and his example for Kenyan leaders:

A lot of ink has been spilled over why Obama is popular globally and just how disappointed people will be because of high expectations - I think that’s missing the larger point. Will Obama under-deliver, probably yes. But when was the last time an individual (especially that young people can relate to) inspired THE WORLD to think that things could be different and better, and that there is such a thing as a non-crappy politician?

[…]

Now if only we can translate our aspirations for him to our aspirations for Kenyan leaders! Would Barack Obama have made it as a Kenyan politican (or even African) - almost certainly not…we excel in trashing intellectual, ethical, different, individuals who want to participate in public service. In Obama’s own words, “…For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.” Lets work to change this people.

The Alpha Quadrant, who criticizes Nov 6 being declared a public holiday since “In the US, the election day was not even a public holiday,” is one of the few bloggers that is not celebrating Obama's victory. In his opinion, Obama's victory is not going to bring change in Kenya:

There are still IDPs in camps by the way.

There's still the Waki and Kriegler reports that cannot be wished away.

There are still HUGE GAPING POTHOLES on a good number of our roads.

Poverty is still a major issue

Change? In Kenya? Nah? Just business as usual - with the usual over-indulgence of all things political. Boring!

And a commentor on his blog adds:

Even as we celebrate Obama’s success story, even as we with fingers closed wait for his inauguration as the 1st half black President of the USA. We need as Kenyans to ask ourselves this fundamental question. What has been our contribution to Obama Success?

His BIOLOGICAL father was a Kenyan, who however abandoned his son and escaped any responsibilities of child support. Infact Obama confesses that he learnt more form his Kenyan ‘father’ absence than from his presence. This is kenya’s EMBARASSMENT NO. 1.

First up, Will from KABOBFest let's the United States in on a little secret:

Barack HUSSEIN Obama is indeed an Arab-Muslims Socialist. Ha ha, viva la revulocion!

From Canada, Rebellious Arab Girl looks highly on the new United States of America:

We finally have a hope now for a better future of this world. Thank you Americans for voting this year for a change! Us Canadians salute you.

Dissecting Left, living in Australia, is not so sanguine. In fact, in a post written before the election, he feels whoever wins will mark the death-knell for the United States:

No matter who wins Tuesday America is going to be a different country. When the sun rises on November 5, regardless of who the president-elect is, a more un-United States than has existed since the Civil War will wake to dispute the results of the disgusting campaign that has mercifully come to an end.

Whoever the losers, they will believe they were cheated, and will point fingers at those they believe responsible. Almost half the nation will view the winner as illegitimate, and will do everything in their power to undermine his authority as long as he's in the White House. With this animosity will come a new level of hatred between those of differing political persuasions like nothing our country has experienced in the modern era. Putting it bluntly, and without sounding too much like Rev. Jeremiah “G-d Damn America” Wright, there will be no such thing as Americans anymore.

Instead, there'll be Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, and encounters between the members of these groups will for years nay decades be at best unfriendly, and at worst quite hostile if not downright violent.

For obvious reasons, Kenyans have followed this election in unrivaled interest. The Kenyan Pundit discusses what Obama will mean to the country.

Like most of the rest of the world, I’m hoping that I’m waking up to a moment in history. Beyond the sheer glee of an Obama victory, there’s just the awesomeness of having been around during what will be one for the record books. During my student days I remember being wistful at times when hearing about historic leaders and historic times, and now there’s an opportunity to live it. A lot of ink has been spilled over why Obama is popular globally and just how disappointed people will be because of high expectations - I think that’s missing the larger point. Will Obama under-deliver, probably yes. But when was the last time an individual (especially that young people can relate to) inspired THE WORLD to think that things could be different and better, and that there is such a thing as a non-crappy politician?

And for those (Kenyans) who are being derisive about Kenyans trying to “own” Obama. Bah! Yes, it’s unrealistic to think that his election will change U.S. policy practically as far as Kenya goes, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Kenyans going overboard with Obama-mania and what he represents for us.

Now if only we can translate our aspirations for him to our aspirations for Kenyan leaders! Would Barack Obama have made it as a Kenyan politican (or even African) - almost certainly not…we excel in trashing intellectual, ethical, different, individuals who want to participate in public service. In Obama’s own words, “…For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.” Lets work to change this people.

Staying with Africa and its diaspora for a moment, let's check in on OmoTaylor over at African Loft:

OBAMA IS PRESIDENT. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE WON. UP AFRICAN AMERICANS. UP UP MY BLACK RACE. HISTORY IS MADE.

GOD PLEASE HELP BARACK OBAMA MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS IN AMERICA. AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.

I REST MY CASE, TIME TO CELEBRATE.

FATHER LORD JEHOVAH I THANK YOU
WE THANK YOU.

At the PoliGazette site in the Netherlands, an open thread debated what significance Obama's race played in the election. First up, we have Marc:

Well, it’s a historical event and a great moment when an African-American has been elected president of the U.S. There’s no denying that, and even if the basis for that election is more flash than substance, Barack Obama does give all Americans the opportunity to put our racial divide in our rear-view mirror. I hope that happens; I’d just prefer a more fiscally responsible individual make that happen.

From Interested:

i guess, myself I could care less about the individuals race, although I can recognize the significance. What I generally liked about Obama was he comes across as seeming to be eager to do well.

Guess we’ll find out.

And Orson Buggeigh:

Good luck, Mr. President Elect. I sincerely hope that Obama will be able to resist the pressure from his own party to turn left, and that he will, indeed, make good on his promise to be “all of America’s president.” That is not going to be easy, and the economic problems facing him are huge. Still, in some ways, while it’s easy to heap the praise on him at his hour of success, the real proof of his abilities will not be seen tonight, but in two years.

The Swedish Fisherman provides an update on how the cultural and political elite of Sweden — along with the rest of the country — became fascinated with the U.S. election.

But while Swedes have a history of keeping an eye on US politics, Ljunggren said that the country has paid particularly close attention to the 2008 campaign for a variety of reasons.

“Swedes were very surprised when [John] Kerry lost in 2004, but they learned something from it,” he said, explaining that the experience taught people not to confuse expectations with reality when it comes to US politics.

In the intervening years the Swedish press and Swedes in general have worked hard at becoming better educated about what drives US politics, [political commentator Stig-Björn] Ljunggren said, with the 2008 election being something of a final exam for what they’ve learned.

“This time it won’t only be Swedes who are surprised if Obama loses, as everyone I talk to here in the US also expects him to win,” said Ljunggren.

“There are echoes of Kennedy…people are seeing the dawn of a new era,” he added.

Zack, originally from Pakistan, writes for the Procrastination blog, and volunteered at the Obama campaign in Georgia. Here are a few of his dispatches from Election Night:

8:35am: I am at the staging location in South Atlanta. Already at one of the polling places here, the line is more than 2 hours long.

10:39am: The morning rush at the polls has lessened now.

11:51am: Sent out volunteers to go knock on doors to get people out to vote. Also, sent phone lists to volunteers to call.

12:55pm: There are so many people here to volunteer, it’s difficult to even find work for them.

…

9:25pm: With Ohio projected as an Obama win by NBC and Fox News, I now project Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. Go Obama!

9:47pm: I didn’t blog it but told my fellow volunteers on the Obama campaign that Obama will net around 350 electoral votes and he looks on track for that.

9:59pm: I have been watching CNN since coming home. Now I am switching to Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert special.

11:00pm: Polls close on the West Coast and it’s official. President-elect Barack Obama!

11:32pm: A very nice concession speech by McCain, despite some booing from the crowd.

Here's an interesting post from our very own Kevin Rennie, who runs the Labor View from Bayside blog, based out of Australia.

One of our TV presenters has just suggested that there was a fair bit of evangelical fervour about Barack Obama's victory speech. What really impressed me was that he didn't rev up the crowd. He chose not to join their attempts to turn the slogan “Yes We Can” into a mindless chant. He challenged them with ideas not theatre. His performance was controlled and rational. He is the teacher not the preacher.

Finally, England For Obama had this tribute of the long, hard road to the White House:

Its been one hell of a show, I can’t quite believe its finally over.

When I started this site back in February I had no real belief that Obama would make it this far. He was the underdog and Clinton was a shoe in for the Democratic nomination.

The best I hoped for at the time was maybe a VP nomination. At very least I wanted to help give more airtime to someone I saw as an inspirational figure that the world just had to see to believe.

Some will say the campaign was too long, but it wasn’t long enough.

As John McCain might say, my friends, democracy works.

Obama’s biological father was Kenyan, and Obama still has many relatives living in the African country. Kenyans, obviously, know this and are rooting massively for an Obama victory today. In some villages, they have even come together to pray for such a victory.

In Europe too, most people heavily favor Obama. Most believe that Obama will reach out to Europe more than George W. Bush did during his infamously unilateral and even arrogant presidency, and they believe that Obama will put the United States on a course similar to Europe’s: a true welfare state, in which the government takes care of those who cannot or do not take care of themselves.

Of course there is another reason why many Europeans support Obama: they believe that his victory would mean that racism is dealt a decisive blow. Despite available evidence to the contrary, Europeans generally believe that Americans are more racist and xenophobic than they are. An Obama victory could change America for the better in that regard as well.

In the Middle East too, many millions hope that Obama will win, believing that his policies will be less “anti-Arab” than those of George W. Bush and, they believe, John McCain. For them, Israel and the war in Iraq both remain prime issues; Obama, quite some of them believe, will be more willing to listen to the Arab world and to break with Israel when his sense of justice, from their perspective, tells him so.

At the same time, those living in hotbeds like Georgia, Iraq and other countries in troubled regions support McCain because they believe that the Maverick from Arizona will be more likely to protect them when they are invaded by a major power like Russia.

But most of the world is undoubtedly rooting for an Obama victory. There is something wonderful about that for it unites the world and it improves the relationship between the rest of the world, especially Europe, and the United States considerably, but also something highly hypocritical and even troubling.

The hypocritical part is this: while Europeans believe that America is a racist society but that Obama could change that to a significant degree, they never seem to wonder why it is that most immigrants and their children do not feel welcome on the old continent. Not one minister of the Netherlands, or his parents, was (were) born in a different country. If we were less racist and more open to ‘newcomers,’ and more likely to vote for a ‘non-white’ politician, this would most certainly be different, for we have some highly talented non-white politicians in this country.

The troubling aspect is this: one almost gets the sense that they expect something of Obama they should expect of no leader. They think that he can transform American foreign policy to such a tremendous degree, that he will be able to deal with all or at least most problems in the world and, for instance, finally help the Palestinians and Israelis come to a peace agreement.

This is, of course, highly unlikely for a variety of reasons, one of them being that this is a regional, not American problem. America can assist, can encourage, advise, but Palestinians and Israelis themselves will have to agree on a deal. They have the last say.

Also, one feels that many foreigners think that Obama will behave like a ‘citizen of the world.’ A man who happens to be America’s president. His goal, many seem to believe, should be to take care of ‘the world’ as a whole, and implement policies that serve ‘the world’s’ interests.

Sadly, this is not how it works. Obama should not and cannot behave like a ‘citizen of the world.’ His first and foremost goal should always be to protect America’s interests, regardless of what this means for the rest of the world. Secondly, it is not always clear what ‘the interest of the world’ is exactly. The world consists out of very different countries with different peoples, who have different cultures, values and interests. Seldom to never is ‘the world’ united about anything. Obama cannot change that, neither should it be expected of him.

But - today marks an important day, and if Obama wins, tomorrow will be a day of celebration worldwide. The disappointment will undoubtedly follow later. For now, it’s party time.

Assuming Americans do what the pollsters tell us, namely vote for Obama in what could very well be a landslide victory (which I do not suspect).

©2008 PoliGazette. All Rights Reserved.

In Kenya, What An African Woman Thinks is blogging the issue. The blogger writes

I’ve just realised that election day in the US is not a public holiday.

That strikes me as very odd.

In Kenya, not only is it a public holiday, but the day is timed so that people can have ample time to travel significant distances just in case they need to do so in order to cast their vote. That is why it’s usually at the end of the year, after Christmas.

Frankly, it never occurred to me that election day anywhere in the world would not be a public holiday.

Doesn’t that make it harder for some people to vote than others? What if you’re a student and you have an exam on election day and you’re in one of those states where voting only takes place on election day? Or what if you’re working a twelve hour shift that day?

I mean, I know about essential services.

But.

Australian DoctorDi also has something to say about the subject:

Tuesday 4 November. Melbourne Cup Day in Australia, Election Day in the US. Each a race that will stop the nation in which it’s run. One I couldn’t care less about, the other I can’t wait to see declared. Many people I know are going to the races today; most others will be at some Melbourne Cup Day event or other. It’s a public holiday in Victoria. A public holiday. For a horse race. There’s so much about what it is to be an Australian caught up in that one bureaucratic decision - to give an entire state the day off for a day at the trots - that it would take me at least this post to unpack it. But I’m sure you can read plenty into it on your own.

The blogger adds:

By tomorrow there will be a new President Elect of the United States of America. It just seems so ludicrous to me - so patently dangerous and absurd - that thinking about Obama’s chances on this final day of the race means accounting for the weather. It’s not the Melbourne Cup, for Christ’s sake, it’s the leader the free world. I don’t know what names Australians will be shouting and chanting and yelling this afternoon as the race is fought and won in a couple of minutes, but I know which one I’m saying to myself, and I’ll give you a hint: he’s the favourite to win.

That strikes me as very odd.

In Kenya, not only is it a public holiday, but the day is timed so that people can have ample time to travel significant distances just in case they need to do so in order to cast their vote. That is why it’s usually at the end of the year, after Christmas.

Frankly, it never occurred to me that election day anywhere in the world would not be a public holiday.

Doesn’t that make it harder for some people to vote than others? What if you’re a student and you have an exam on election day and you’re in one of those states where voting only takes place on election day? Or what if you’re working a twelve hour shift that day?

I mean, I know about essential services.

But.