Without a doubt, the upcoming presidential election is one of the most heated and divisive in recent memory. The current tensions have caused not only misunderstandings, arguments and violence, but also misplaced distrust in the functionality of the US presidential election system itself.
Both Democrats and Republicans fear that fraud and dishonesty could tip the scales in their favor. These practices often affect local breeds; however, President Trump’s bipartisan Commission on Election Integrity, on which I served in 2017–2018, concluded that tyranny of the majority or existing voter fraud had not yet affected the presidential election. Overall, we can thank bipartisan vigilance and the electoral college system for the survival of our Constitutional Republic.
Unlike local races, presidential elections and the Electoral College are decentralized. They consist of 51 smaller elections rolled into one, with local, state and federal accountability checks.
However, this does not mean that fraud never occurs. It’s true, it’s happening in all 50 states, and it should be taken seriously — especially considering that in 2016, the outcome of three key swing states was decided by margins of 40,000 or less. Lawmakers must take additional steps to crack down on fraud, especially in problem states like California and Pennsylvania. However, in any potential periods of uncertainty – especially in these elections with a immense number of postal votes – we should exercise patience and confidence that the current system will work. Instead of labeling the Electoral College as evil, we should devote our energy to quickly rooting out fraud while holding our election officials and representatives to a high standard of transparency.
For example, the state of Ohio has approx the whole host election administration regulations that election officials must follow. As former Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007, I know firsthand that the compliance process is not for the pale of heart.
Both sides anticipate which states may have tight races months in advance and flood those states with lawyers and poll watchers. We saw this in Ohio in 2004 when I served as Secretary of State. Although the gap between the two parties has narrowed to about two percent, transparency precautions taken by both political parties have made Ohio perhaps the most challenging state overall to commit fraud.
Some accept that assumption but believe this election could have turned out differently given the scope of junk mail and mail-in voting. These changes highlight the importance of supply chain and verification safeguards.
It’s true: problems and mistakes did happen. But the speed with which local officials addressed these issues should give us confidence, not doubt. For example, in Franklin County, Ohio almost 50 thousand potential absentee ballots went to the wrong voters. The Bipartisan Election Commission recognized the error early and appears to have taken all necessary steps to correct it in time. Many other comparable examples across the country were corrected just as quickly compared to examples in the field.
That said, no one is perfect, and the stakes couldn’t be higher on November 3. We have to make sure that every valid vote is counted and that’s it Just valid votes are counted. All cases of financial fraud should be dealt with quickly and decisively. In the longer term, we should also adopt proposals to improve our local electoral processes. Let’s have these conversations instead of questioning the legitimacy of the Electoral College and its results.
The American electoral system has stood the test of time. It has survived civil wars, world wars and a decade-long depression, and few question its legality.
Let us be careful with our words in the days ahead as we watch the Electoral College allow America to deliver another successful national election that will be the envy of the world. The system is the gold standard and model of a free society.
Ken Blackwell, Distinguished Fellow of the Family Research Council, is a member of the American Constitutional Rights Union Action Council.
