Letter from the Editor: Elect

I remember the excitement of voting in my first Presidential election, the 2000 election, the year of Bush v. Gore. I was in college, and my friends and I sat on the floor, huddled around a tiny 14” television in my dorm room eagerly awaiting the results. Young, new voters, we were anxious to find out if our respective candidate would be the next leader of our nation. However, as the night drew on, we grew increasingly disheartened as we realized that we would likely not learn the outcome of the election that night.  

In fact, we would end up waiting 36 days to learn the outcome of our first election. On December 12, 2000, the Supreme Court issued its ruling—effectively ending the recount in Florida, after a close vote count and voting irregularities resulted in legal challenges—determining the final results of the election. Florida’s electoral votes went to George W. Bush after what was considered the second longest delay in the history of the United States presidential election.  

The longest delay was the 1876 election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. The results of that election were not determined until March 2, 1877, just two days before the inauguration. The delay was the result of disputed electoral votes in several states, leading to intense political negotiations and the creation of a bipartisan Electoral Commission. The Commission ultimately awarded the disputed votes to Hayes, giving him the victory after a nearly four-month delay.  

It’s clear that the process of electing our leaders is not always straightforward. The 2000 election was a lesson in patience for my friends and me, and a lesson in politics and government for the entire nation. It reminded us that democracy, while sometimes messy and prolonged, is intended to reflect the will of the people through a structured process. 

With this issue of Tabor Today arriving during the U.S. election season, it felt appropriate to explore the essential role of civics in our society. Civics touches every part of our lives, from how we engage with government to how we contribute to our communities. Through profiles of alumni working in homeland security and articles on teaching government at Tabor, we highlight how civic engagement shapes our world. We hope you enjoy this issue of Tabor Today.

Please note: We acknowledge that history is complex, and there may be instances in which we do not have the full story or include every Tabor constituent related to a single topic in one issue. We welcome and encourage alumni to share their stories and knowledge of Tabor with us. We’re excited to hear from you. Contact us at magazine@taboracademy.org.