The stakes are high for election safety

    

As the 2020 presidential election is drawing near, never before has the security and integrity of elections been this much in doubt. Many different factors are in play and converging at the same time. Possible foreign influence, national pandemic, and attempts at voter suppression.

    The foreign influence I’m sure has been around for many years but I think it has morphed into something more sinister since the last presidential election. Our federal intelligence confirmed that it happened during the 2016 election and that it is happening again now. The biggest question is, why hasn’t the government taken the steps to confront these threats and in act policies to reduce the chance that foreign governments are successful in their attempts. This could be done by having a paper trail in cities and states that have outdated and vulnerable voting machines. Social media companies should also be held responsible for spreading misinformation from bogus accounts run by foreign countries.

    The second concern pertains to voting safety during a pandemic. Why should voters have to stand in line for hours to exercise their right when doing it could cause potential harm to themselves or others? This could be resolved by holding all mail-in elections. A few states such as Oregon, have been doing it for up to 30 years and the evidence of voter fraud has not been proven to be a problem. Some people believe if all mail-in voting is allowed then many more people would exercise their rights and that might benefit one political party over another. 

    Lastly, voters suppression takes many forms. It could be limiting voting precincts in areas where many minorities live, the drawing of gerrymandered congressional districts to favor one party over another, and the purging of registered voters simply because they may have not voted in the last election. I feel we must have a national strategy to address voters suppression and pass new laws that are consistent with the 15th amendment and in which all states must follow. 

    In conclusion, I am fearful that the concerns I have regarding election safety will play out during the November election. We must as a country, come together to fight these threats and keep our democracy healthy and are elected officials held accountable to all Americans. 

By: Max Mason