Because the 2024 election grinds to a hair-raising conclusion, it’s not simply democracy that’s on the Nov. 5 poll. Voting itself is below assault, in huge methods and small, from Donald Trump and his Republican allies.
Trump is already spreading unsubstantiated claims of election fraud and dishonest in Pennsylvania, with he and his supporters laying the identical groundwork of lies, threats and misinformation as he did 4 years in the past in preparation to contest the outcomes if Vice President Kamala Harris wins. Their assaults on the equipment of democracy put ballot staff and election officers at risk. And the GOP’s efforts to problem the eligibility of voters, purge voter rolls, prohibit the counting of ballots and change the certification course of threaten to disenfranchise residents and solid doubt on the election.
However that is no motive to despair. It’s time to behave, utilizing the very best protection we’ve towards the specter of a vindictive authoritarian, consummate racist and malignant narcissist who places himself earlier than Individuals and our democracy. It’s time to get out and vote.
As late civil rights chief and U.S. Rep. John Lewis stated: “The vote is treasured. It’s nearly sacred. It’s the strongest nonviolent instrument we’ve in a democracy.”
But it surely’s meaningless until you train it.
It shouldn’t need to be stated, but when Trump and the Republican Celebration suppose their path to victory will depend on spreading misinformation about election fraud, attacking ballot staff and suppressing votes, that doesn’t bode effectively for democracy. By working to limit the citizens somewhat than increase it, that solely demonstrates that they don’t suppose they’ll win on the deserves of their unpopular agenda.
Increasing voting rights was a virtually two-century battle, however these rights have been below assault from Republican leaders. So it’s painful and tiring the extent to which each and every election has develop into a referendum on democracy.
That actuality is clearer than ever. Trump is operating an explicitly authoritarian and antidemocratic marketing campaign, saying he could be a dictator on “Day One.” He stated at a Christian summit this yr that if he’s elected, “you gained’t need to vote anymore.” His fomenting of the Jan. 6 riot and his makes an attempt to overturn the desire of the voters and his unabated lies about his 2020 loss to Joe Biden could solely be previews of what’s in retailer within the coming days.
Trump’s operating mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has stated he wouldn’t have voted to certify Biden’s 2020 election win and stated final month that Trump didn’t lose. And in a latest social media publish, Vance praised a Trump supporter who had verbally attacked a ballot employee, saying, “What a patriot.”
It’s not simply your vote on the presidential ticket that’s essential. Do not forget that 4 years in the past there have been 147 members of Congress, all of them Republicans, who tried overturn the desire of the individuals by voting towards the certification of Biden’s victory. Lots of them, from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) and Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita), are operating for reelection, whereas their get together lays the groundwork to undermine this yr’s election in the event that they don’t just like the outcomes. Most California Republicans operating for Congress gained’t decide to certifying the 2024 presidential election outcomes. That’s shameful and disqualifying.
In the event that they don’t respect our votes, they don’t deserve our votes.
In case you are disillusioned, on the fence, considering of sitting this one out, in any other case disengaged or uninspired to make use of your vote to reject Trump and his assaults on America’s values, do not forget that you can be given no second probability. There will probably be no do-over in returning an aggrieved and emboldened demagogue to energy, and no alternative to reverse the following hurt to ladies, LGBTQ+ Individuals, immigrants and other people of shade, together with pals, members of the family and neighbors.
So simply vote. Vote, vote, vote. None of this issues in case you don’t vote.
