Voting is the one power every American holds equally. Now there is talk of sending troops and federal forces to oversee elections, and of invoking emergency powers around the vote. Soldiers do not belong at polling places. Federal agents should not be used to scare voters or to cast doubt on lawful results. Voters who fear intimidation stay home, and a democracy where people stay home is not a democracy. Congress can write clear limits into law, and every candidate should say whether they will. Elections must be run by election officials, under rules set in advance, and counted honestly. Whoever wins, the result must be decided by voters and not by force. Voters have a right to know where those asking for their support stand on this before they cast a ballot. Ban the deployment of military forces to polling places and punish anyone who uses federal power to intimidate voters or overturn lawful results.
Voting is the one power every American holds equally. Now there is talk of sending troops and federal forces to oversee elections, and of invoking emergency powers around the vote. Soldiers do not belong at polling places. Federal agents should not be used to scare voters or to cast doubt on lawful results. Voters who fear intimidation stay home, and a democracy where people stay home is not a democracy. Congress can write clear limits into law, and every candidate should say whether they will. Elections must be run by election officials, under rules set in advance, and counted honestly. Whoever wins, the result must be decided by voters and not by force. Voters have a right to know where those asking for their support stand on this before they cast a ballot. Ban the deployment of military forces to polling places and punish anyone who uses federal power to intimidate voters or overturn lawful results.
