The integrity of this year’s presidential election is at risk, and both Republicans and Democrats should take action to protect it. No one wants supporters of President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden to say the election was “stolen” if their chosen candidate doesn’t win. This divisive rhetoric – regardless of which political party uses it – is reckless and will only further divide us as a nation.
Back in August, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton advised Biden to “under no circumstances should you give in.” This type of language is unsafe and pushes a nation already reeling from shutdowns, riots and historically low trust in our institutions closer to the brink of chaos. Fortunately, both Biden AND Trump have said they will accept the election results, but tensions remain high among supporters of each candidate.
Although Americans are divided on many issues, I believe there is one thing they can all agree on: We all believe in the need for free and fair elections and that every vote cast in accordance with applicable law must count.
As Americans, we have a responsibility to count every vote. For over 200 years, our electoral system has stood the test of time because both election winners and losers accept the election results as legitimate. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that the process is fair and that every American’s vote is counted. And that’s how it should be. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, you should have confidence in the electoral process and know that your vote was counted.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s elections look a bit different than previous ones in recent history. We see historic levels of early votingand several states have expanded their mail-in and early voting programs to ensure that all citizens can vote safely and are not forced to choose between their health and the right to vote. Some states are even moving polling places to larger facilities and using outdoor locations to ensure the safety of all voters and election administrators.
While these measures are helpful, the escalate in mail-in voting also means we may not know the presidential election result on election night. This is because critical battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin cannot begin processing or counting absentee ballots until Election Day itself, and in both states, millions of citizens cast their ballots using mailed absentee ballots . It will take some time to count them.
This means that all Americans – including candidates, political parties and the media – will need to be patient as every vote is counted. By doing so, we demonstrate our patriotic obligation to support the constitutional processes that govern our elections. It may not be an simple task, but it is essential. That’s why I joined National Council on Election Integrity along with other former elected officials, former Cabinet secretaries, retired military officials and civic leaders to sponsor Count every vote campaign. We remain focused on protecting the integrity of this year’s elections and ensuring that they are conducted fairly and peacefully. And while we support every American’s right to protest, we condemn any acts of violence.
Fortunately, the expansive majority of Americans understand and agree with us. AND vote conducted last month found that 75% of Americans believe it is more essential to count every vote than to quickly determine the election result.
It is our collective responsibility as Americans to ensure that the presidential election – and all elections this year – is free and fair. It will also be our responsibility to accept the election results after a full and precise count. After we cast our votes this year, it is incumbent upon all of us to unite, put country before party, and defend the integrity of our electoral processes.
Republican Jim Renacci is a former congressman from Ohio and a member of the Republican Party National Election Integrity Council.
