This presidential election is the most contentious in modern times, and perhaps in all of U.S. history. Many people, even the president himself, have claimed that this election might be rigged. It is our duty as American citizens to reject this notion.
We do not live in Venezuela. We do not live in North Korea. We do not live in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary. We do not live in Russia. We do not live in China. We do not live in a one-party system or an authoritarian regime where the outcome is pre-baked. We live in the United States of America.
Our elections are not rigged and they are not predestined. Our elections are legitimate.
Part of what made the idea of the United States of America so revolutionary was that it was, for the first time in history, a system truly built on self-governance. Two hundred and fifty years ago, our Founders were far ahead of their time. Our Founders knew that it was not just possible for citizens to choose their leaders, but that it was right. Our system was built on the idea that power did not come from wealth or birthright and that power should not be everlasting. That power, instead, came from something called the public trust. Our Founders knew that power should come from the Will of the People, and that the Will of the People can and does change.
From the very beginning of our system up until this very day, political power has changed hands peacefully and regularly. There has not been a single era of political dominance in our history.
The elections in the United States are run at the state level by each of the 50 different states. In fact, our Constitution prescribes it. Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution requires that the states run their own elections with rules that they independently establish. As a result, no state’s elections are the same. Each state has varying rules, and each state has its own State Board of Elections. And yes, even mail-in voting is different in every single state from the ballots themselves to the validation and counting process. Because of these separate and individual systems, it is exceedingly difficult for a bad actor to affect the outcome of an election, especially on a national level.
The way our polling places are run is also important. Election sites have representatives and volunteers at each and every polling place. All political affiliations from Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, and any others can volunteer as poll workers, and they do. Each polling and counting site also have multiple polling judges to solve any disputes that arise from voter tampering, potential voter fraud, ballots under question, or any other incidents. At no point within the voting booth, unlike Venezuela, does anyone suggest who you should vote for or ask that they look at your ballot afterwards to ensure that you voted for the “right” person. You are totally free to express your preferences. And if anyone prevents you from making your free choice, they face a serious felony charge. It is also a felony to vote more than once, vote as someone else, discard someone’s ballot, or intimidate voters.
Another importance is that our elections, if a dispute arises, are settled in the courts, a separate but equal branch of our government. During the 2000 presidential election, the Supreme Court ruled on the recount of Florida’s votes. This is to say that even if a dispute arises, those people vying for the seat have no power to alter the outcome. Instead, a neutral court hears the case. This is not Russia where Vladimir Putin magically receives 70% of the vote.
What’s the point in saying all of this?
It’s simple. Unlike all of those countries mentioned above, our elections are trustworthy. We do, as it turns out, actually have a choice; our election outcomes are not predetermined or baked in the cake. And no matter how much fomentation from partisan voices, our elections are legitimate. No matter how often they repeat that voter or mail-in ballot fraud exists, our system is built to handle it. There is no credible proof of widespread voter fraud or rigged elections. The key word here is credible. Many people talk about voter fraud, but in the U.S. it is virtually non-existent; voter fraud is statistical noise.
However, there is one thing that we haven’t talked about, and that is the public trust of our system. Regardless of the many failsafes built into our system, none of them matter if we plainly don’t trust them. Just like the stock market, public confidence matters. It’s funny how that works. The system could be totally fool proof, and yet if we don’t trust it, well, we lose trust in it. The trust in our system is only as strong as we are. It can evaporate into thin air for no reason at all if we aren’t careful and lack resilience.
Let’s think about it. We have these various secure, apolitical, and Constitutional systems in place to prevent illegitimate elections and correct any disputes that arise. However, if one irresponsible spark of mistrust is set off, the public trust of our election could go up in smoke. It is our duty as Americans not to let that happen.
If you conjure up a reason to mistrust our system, then, in your mind, it will become untrustworthy. If you prime yourself for a rigged election, then, in your mind, it will become rigged.
This election is already very contentious, and likely will be after election day. So, every single one of us need to take the results of this election slowly. Let the evidence come out, and make sure that it is good, credible evidence. Do not let partisan or outrage news dominate the narrative and your thoughts. Do not let our emotions get the better of us. We have a duty here. Let’s not will a rigged election into existence.
Alex Auman is a Richmond Country native. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He writes about politics, ideas and current events.
