If ever there was a “solution” in search of a problem, it’s Trump’s threat to intrude on state-run elections by sending federal agents into local polling places – only in “blue” places, of course, not in “red.” But there is no real problem, as scores of judges have affirmed. Suits claiming voter fraud have been thrown out for lack of proof; mistakes, not deliberate fraud, were the cause in the very few cases of illegal voting. How many have there been? A minuscule amount, over many years.
Every time I’ve gone to vote over decades past, I’ve had to sign in, and poll workers had to verify that my signature matched what was on record. It didn’t matter that we may have seen each other numerous times in previous elections; we jumped through that hoop because we took seriously our duty to follow the law, step by step.
But there were smiles, too. The poll workers were uncomplaining about working a very long day for little pay, seeing it as a calling they were fulfilling in service to our democratic system of governance, not merely a temp job. And I’ve always felt, and sometimes said, how grateful I was for their faithful, scrupulously honest service. So threatening to send hard-eyed, possibly masked thugs to poison that atmosphere is a scurrilous insult to those fine people, and to us responsible citizens coming to vote.
This system has worked almost flawlessly for centuries now, and the Constitution stipulates clearly that the federal government and its minions have no legitimate, legal role in the conduct of elections. State officials are in charge. Our federal courts should be saying, loud and clear, “Election interference is unconstitutional. And totally unnecessary. Hand’s off, feds!”
Fred Reklau
Oak Park