This is an election year unlike any we’ve experienced in recent decades. Not only do candidates of both major parties have glaringly divergent outlooks on issues including climate change, taxes, reproductive rights, education, marriage equality, and the role of government in American life, but they also appear to disagree on a pillar of democracy- the willingness to accept defeat at the polls.
Coming up on the two-year anniversary of the election of 2020, we are simply amazed at the continued use of the slogan by members of the Republican party, “the election was stolen”. This is blatantly false and damages the perception of our hard-working election workers and our election system.
Several of us in Greene County was part of the statewide observation team when attending both the machine and paper ballot recounts in 2020.
We watched and attested to the election outcome for six counties. In this audit, machine counts matched the paper ballots. All of the ballots we observed being processed fulfilled a strict chain of custody. None of the down-ballot Republican winners on that same ballot claimed that their own election was tainted.
Aside from our personal local experience, there have been more than 60 election-related lawsuits dismissed nationally and multiple non-scrupulous attorneys who pushed this falsehood have been investigated for election interference. Let empirical evidence be your guide. Please stop tearing down our democratic institutions.
We are imploring the citizens of our county and beyond. Let’s not succumb to lies and paranoia. Let the poll workers do their job. Let registered voters vote without harassment. Let everyone who is campaigning have respect of our freedom of expression. Be civil. Be kind. These people you see voting and working in your precincts are your neighbors.
Early voting starts October 17. Check your voter status at mvp.sos.ga.gov. If you need a ride to the poll, please contact newgeorgiaproject.org/ rides/ OR ridetothepoll.com OR rideshare2vote. com. If you have any problem in voting, call Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816.
Sincerely, Lake Country Democrats