An Election Redesign to Restore Trust in US Democracy | Tiana Epps-Johnson | TED

翻译人员: Alex Ma 校对人员: Ethan Huang

It's dark days for democracy.

现如今对民主而言可谓在失意时代。

And our crisis is global.

而且我们面对的危机是全球性的。

If you're like me, you can feel it in your bones.

如果你们跟我一样， 那么就会本能地感觉到。

My expertise focuses on democracy in the United States,

我所擅长的领域是美国民主，

where I live and work.

我身在其中 且工作也围绕着它。

And while we've long lifted up our own system on a pedestal

虽然长久以来我们把我们的民主系统 奉为完美，

as an example for the world,

让全世界为之效仿，

we're one of those democracies that's currently in a yearslong decline.

但我们的民主其实是 正走多年下坡路的其中之一。

So much of the conversation in the media and among experts

太多各路媒体和专家的讨论

is about our broken two-party system.

都是在围绕着我们破败的两党制体系。

Democrats vs. Republicans.

民主党对上共和党。

And so much of the conversation about voting is about the outcomes:

另外太多的讨论 无外乎就是关于选举的结果：

the winners and the losers.

获胜方和败选方。

These are the wrong conversations

如果我们想应对美国民主如今 所面临的威胁的话，

if we want to tackle the threat to US democracy today.

这些讨论方向就大错特错了。

Because we have a much more fundamental challenge, and it’s quickly growing.

因为我们面临着更为根本的挑战 而且它还在迅速生长蔓延。

The United States election infrastructure is crumbling.

美国选举的基础设施正在分崩离析。

By infrastructure, I mean the technology,

这里所说的基础设施， 我指的是如科技，

the physical infrastructure, like facilities,

实体的基础设施像选举场地，

and most importantly, the human infrastructure,

以及最重要的人力基础设施，

the people who manage the US voting process.

也就是管理美国选举流程的人。

Election infrastructure is so essential

选举的基础设施非常关键

that it's been designated critical infrastructure

以至于美国国土安全部将其

by the US Department of Homeland Security.

认定为关键基础设施。

That puts it on par with systems like our power grid and water supply

也就是说在联邦政府看来，

选举基础设施和国家电网、 供水系统一样重要。

in the eyes of the federal government.

But they haven't invested in it like it's critical.

但他们从未像关键基础设施那样 对其进行过投入。

The average portion of a county budget spent on election operations

各郡县平均用于选举活动的预算

is about half of one percent.

大约只占整体预算的 0.5% 。

To put that into context,

换句以更好理解的话说，

we spend about the same amount to maintain parking facilities

我们用于维护停车设施的花费

as we do our election system.

和我们用于选举系统的花费差不多。

If we zoom out a little bit,

如果我们将视角范围拉大一点，

the US election system is actually pretty unique by global standards.

美国选举系统按照国际标准来说 其实相当独特。

Unlike some other places,

不像世界其他国家和地区，

we have no central election authority

我们没有负责管理整个国家

that's responsible for managing the logistics of voting

投票后勤工作的中央选举机构。

for our entire country.

Instead, we have thousands and thousands of local departments

相反，我们有数以千计的地方机构，

that each have some independent mix

它们对于当地投票工作的开展 有各自独立的想法。

for figuring out how to make voting work where they live.

These departments are staffed by professional election officials

这些机构由专业的选举工作人员组成，

with support from volunteer poll workers during peak election season.

在选举季最忙的时候 还有计票志愿者协助工作。

So with no government-run how-to for how to administer elections,

因此由于没有政府介入 如何进行选举操作，

we end up seeing widely different voting experiences throughout the US,

我们最终看到的就是全美上下 各不相同的投票操作，

where voting can legitimately work one way in one community

选举可能在某个社区 能够合法有效地进行，

and look totally different somewhere else.

但到了其他地方就完全不一样了。

For over a decade,

过去十多年来，

my work has focused on providing technology and training

我的工作聚焦于向州及地方选举官员

and other resources to state and local election officials

提供科技支持、培训以及其他资源

to support them in their work serving voters.

以便于他们更好地为选民服务。

In my current role,

我现在的工作

that has looked like working with election departments

看起来有点像在 和全国各地的选举机构打交道，

in every corner of the country,

that together serve about 75 percent of our eligible voters.

这些机构的服务对象覆盖了 全国约 75% 的符合条件的选民。

This has given me a really unique window

而这也给予我独一无二的途径，

into what it actually takes these public servants on the front lines

深入了解到底是什么 驱使了这些基层工作人员

to do things like keep voter rolls up to date

让选民们更新选民状态，

and quickly and accurately count ballots

亦或是快速准确地清点选票，

and inform their communities about how the process works.

再或者向他们当地社区 宣传普及选举流程。

This year-round work is hard.

这份贯穿全年的工作是艰难的。

And it's often super thankless.

而且通常极其吃力不讨好。

And the last two years have been some of the worst.

过去的两年 可以说是最糟糕的日子。

Election officials who serve millions of voters

服务数百万选民的选举官员

currently lack the basic technology that they need to reliably do their work.

现阶段缺少完成其工作所需的 最基本的科技设备。

It either doesn’t exist, or it’s shockingly outdated.

它们要么没有， 要么就早已过时。

In the year 2020,

在 2020 年，

we supported a small New England town replace their hand crank ballot box

我们帮新英格兰地区的一个小镇 换掉了他们的手摇投票箱，

that they had been using since the early 1900s to count ballots.

他们使用其计票 可以追溯到 20 世纪初期。

One was literally held together by duct tape.

这个箱子甚至真就是用强力胶带 粘在一起的。

Even worse,

更糟糕的是，

the people that underpin our voting process,

支撑我们选举流程的选举官员们，

the election officials, are currently under attack.

如今还在饱受攻击。

In exchange for being outspoken about the integrity of the process

这些官员对其主导的 2020 大选 选举流程完整性说得过于直白所换来的——

that they managed in 2020,

which, by the way,

这里插一句，

turned out to be our highest turnout election in the US in over a century

根据国家安全部门的说法，

此次大选是美国一个多世纪以来 投票参与率最高的一次选举，

and the most secure election ever administered in our history,

也是我们有史以来 最可靠的一次选举，

according to our national security community --

(Applause)

（掌声）

In exchange for the grit and determination

这些选举工作人员的勇气和决心

that it took to make that possible during a global pandemic,

让这场大选 得以在新冠大流行中顺利完成，

today, election officials are receiving death threats,

这些选举官员如今所换来的 却是面临死亡威胁，

their children are being bullied,

其子女也遭受霸凌，

and some have had to flee their homes.

其中有些人甚至被迫背井离乡。

A recent survey shows that one in three election officials,

一项近期的调研显示 每三个选举官员之中就有一个，

one in three,

强调一下是每三个中 就有一个人

currently feel unsafe doing their work.

会对当前的这份工作感到不安。

It's appalling.

这太可怕了。

And enough is enough.

这一现状该就此打住。

We are at a tipping point for US democracy

我们正处于美国民主的临界点

and frankly, democracy globally.

或说得更直白一点， 其也是全球民主的临界点。

I don't know about you,

我不知道你们怎么觉得，

but I personally don't feel comfortable

但我个人不喜欢

just standing around, leaving things to chance.

只是袖手旁观 并听天由命。

And I especially don't feel comfortable standing by, asking election officials

而且我尤其不喜欢作壁上观 询问那些选举官员

to keep figuring out how to make it work alone,

当我们的选举系统被推向绝境时

while our system is getting pushed to its brink.

该如何想办法让其独立运行。

We need to rally around a set of shared values and standards,

我们需要围绕一套如指北星的

共同价值观和标准团结起来，

a North Star,

so that every single voter, regardless of their zip code,

这样每一位选民无论身处何处，

has access to a process that's both fair and trustworthy.

都能使用公平可靠的选举流程。

Election officials need a place where they can come together

选举官员们需要能够聚在一起

以时刻保证自己掌握着最新的技能的场所，

to keep their skills fresh

so that they're ready to tackle whatever challenges might come,

这样无论面对任何挑战他们都能从容应对，

whether it's training to bolster cybersecurity

不论是加强网络安全的培训，

or to combat disinformation

还是打击虚假信息，

or to help them keep voters safe during a pandemic.

亦或是帮助他们 协助选民在疫情期间安全投票。

And every election department,

每个选举部门，

rural, urban, large, small,

无论是在农村，城市 还是规模大小，

needs access to 21st century secure technology

都需要得到 21 世纪的 安全可靠的科技辅助，

so that every single community has access to the basics.

以致每个社区 都能实现最基础的选举条件。

Like, a website where voters can find out answers

譬如，为选民解答关于他们所在地区

选举是如何操作的网站。

about how voting works where they live.

Or data-driven tools that election officials can use

又或是供选举官员们使用的 数据驱动分析工具

to make sure that we don't have lines that snake around city blocks

以避免投票站外的街区 出现选民大排长龙的情况。

outside of polling places.

去年夏天，

Last summer,

I was at my first conference since the start of the pandemic,

我参加了自新冠开始至今的 第一场线下会议，

and I was going up the escalator

当时我正乘自动扶梯上楼，

and I locked eyes with this election official

目光停留在了一个我非常喜欢的 选举官员身上。

who I absolutely adore.

Let's call her Sarah.

我们就叫她莎拉（Sarah）吧。

I ran and I gave Sarah a huge hug,

我冲过去给了她一个大大的拥抱，

and I realized that probably 60 seconds passed before we let go.

等我和她结束拥抱时我才意识到 已经过去了差不多一分钟。

And when we did, I was crying and so was Sarah.

拥抱之后我和莎拉都在落泪。

Sarah's life got flipped totally upside down after the 2020 election,

莎拉的生活在 2020 大选之后 发生了翻天覆地的变化，

when a vicious conspiracy theory about her office went viral.

那时一条关于她的选举场所的恶毒阴谋论 在短期内大量传播。

Almost immediately, the death threats started to roll in,

几乎同时， 各种死亡威胁也蜂拥而至，

and they were unrelenting and they were very specific

威胁持续不断，

并且其明确具体表达了

about the harm that they wished upon Sarah

对以及她的丈夫 甚至是她的孩子

and her husband

and their children.

想要造成的伤害。

And still, Sarah never backed down from telling the truth

可尽管如此， 莎拉从不惧畏惧，

敢于告诉大众 她主导的这次大选的流程真相。

about the process that she led.

In that moment, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and love

在那一瞬间 我内心充斥着的感激和爱

and admiration for Sarah that I couldn't help the tears.

还有对莎拉的倾佩之情， 让我一时不禁潸然泪下。

But I think if I'm being super, super honest,

但我觉得 如果让我完全坦诚地说，

I was just so happy that my friend was still here to hug.

我的朋友能够依旧活着让我去拥抱， 就足以让我高兴之至了。

Election officials deserve a warm,

选举官员们值得我们用温暖和欢迎相待，

welcoming community where their hard work is celebrated and encouraged,

他们的辛勤付出值得赞誉和鼓励，

not vilified.

而不是诽谤。

And all of this is exactly why I'm so excited

而这一切 也就是我为什么如此激动的原因，

that we are inviting every single election department in the United States

我们诚邀全美每一个选举部门

to join the US Alliance for Election Excellence.

都加入美国卓越选举联盟。

(Applause)

（掌声）

The Alliance is a place where election officials and technologists

这是一个选举官员将和技术专家、

and designers and other experts are working hand in hand

设计师以及其他专家共同展开合作

to revitalize US democracy.

重振美国民主的联盟。

And we're doing it by focusing on the basics, a shared North Star,

而实现这一点， 我们需要聚焦各种基础条件与准则，

the tools that it actually takes to get the job done,

全员共享使得一切得以完成，

and a community of support that has each other's back,

并且无论面对任何事情 我们还需要成员彼此间的互相帮助。

whatever might come.

It is absolutely crucial that we rebuild the foundation of US democracy,

重建美国民主的基础至关重要，

and that's exactly what we're going to do.

而这也正是我们正准备做的事情。

The Alliance is not only ready to meet this moment,

这一联盟不仅是为重建民主，

we're ready to create a foundation so strong,

我们已经准备好 打下一个更加稳固的基础，

that we can make it another 200 years.

彼此携手能够让其再续 200 年。

Together.

Thank you.

谢谢大家。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌声和欢呼声）