If you watch prime-time debates on Indian news channels, it’s most likely that you know Sambit Patra well enough. The national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is known for his aggressive style and his one-liners. But Patra is now widening his horizons.
Amid the hullabaloo over the United States Presidential elections, Patra is in the States to witness the polls first hand. He is visiting the US under the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for a month to see whether it will be Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump who will take the coveted throne of the President of the world’s biggest economy. Over the days that he has been there, it seems Patra has learnt a lot of new things.
Let’s find out what he has learned so far:
Friendly to disabled members:
Was good to observe that US Elections are very Divyang friendly,for instance one may not leave the car b/c of disability,but can still vote! pic.twitter.com/vf02sSxQOZ
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 4, 2016
In the US, several options are available for people who need assistance during voting. They can vote on a touch screen or other accessible devices. Vote-by-mail is also an option where people can use their franchise from the home. Also, supervised voting can be made available at a living or nursing home facility.
How Indian ballot is different from the US
This is how a sample Ballot Paper in US looks like …Hv attached a dummy of the same from the State of California- pic.twitter.com/cR24B5hUGT
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 1, 2016
The ballot paper in the US will be in two pages. Other than presidential candidates, choices will depend on the state and county. The first option for president will look like:
Hillary Rodham Clinton. Timothy Michael Kaine Democratic Party
Donald J Trump. Mike Pence. Republican Party
There will also be a blank space available if you want to choose someone else.
Not just Hillary and Trump on the ballots
You would be surprised to know that some States in US elect their Judges as well ..here’s an example from Voter Guide for Los Angeles County pic.twitter.com/JfGG05KPCY
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 1, 2016
Opposed to popular belief, the ballot paper won’t just have Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s names. There are often a few prominent third-party candidates who throw their hats into the ring during presidential campaigns, but because America’s political system is built to favor two major parties, they rarely do very well.
A presidential candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election to appear on the ballot paper list.
Hillary vs Trump: Who is BJP supporting
Not supporting any Party ..am here to observe the Elections impartially @dilipcpa 🙂 ..so trying to go to as many rallies as possible!! https://t.co/yw4g2H7PbX
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 5, 2016
While a few BJP leaders have shown their inclination towards Hillary, Patra claims he is not supporting any party and is just in the US to observe the elections impartially. Several Indians in the US are also preferring Hillary over Trump for the polls.
Rallies for US elections
Am at ISU(Iowa State University),Ames to observe one of Bernie Sanders rallies in support of Hillary ..hmm..rallies here are very different pic.twitter.com/TIbrGxH1LC
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 5, 2016
Be it Indian elections or the US, a political campaign is a collaborated task to influence the decision of the voters. From posters, to placards, to speeches, it has all the colour and the flavour. While both Indian and American politicians indulge in launching sharp attacks on each other, US elections also have presidential debates wherein the candidates fighting are pitted each other. Questions are asked, allegations levelled, all in front of the cameras broadcasted on television screens for everyone to see.
