Ask The Expert: Can I trust the count?

Dear Grace,

People in my life keep making comments about how the election is rigged…I don’t really know how to respond or whether to put any stock in their concerns. Have you heard anything, Grace?

– Hesitant in Hanover

Dear Hesitant,

Thanks for sharing your question. I’ve heard similar concerns from people in my own life and I know that everyone wants to be sure that our system works the way it’s supposed to. When I first read your question, I took to the internet to get a better picture of what we’re dealing with and found that, while some people are skeptical, most Americans trust that the votes in their community are counted fairly. No matter your precinct or state, we generally trust that the people running our polling places are committed to making sure every voice is heard. 

So instead of giving you my answer to your question, Hesitant, I’m passing the mic to someone with real experience to share: my friend and local poll worker, Lila.

Hi, Hesitant! As a two-time polling place volunteer, I was really glad when Grace shared your question with me. I’ll start with a little reassurance: our election system is honest and fair, so rest easy. 

There are a lot of strange ideas and theories flying around casting doubt on this process, Hesitant, so here are a few key reasons why I think that our system deserves your trust:

Poll workers are your neighbors! This year was my second time volunteering at my polling place, and both times have been a really fulfilling experience. I first volunteered at the polls during the height of COVID in 2020, because I was worried about making sure everyone could vote safely. It was so cool to interact with people from my area and see how diverse we all really are, even within a small community. Even though we all had to wear masks, seeing people I know from the neighborhood really made me feel like I was making a difference. This year, my experience was about the same—I saw my neighbors, spent hours on my feet, and double- and triple-checked tallies and voter rolls. 

There are a lot of rules. As a first-time volunteer back in 2020, I had a lot to learn—there are so many rules for how we can interact with voters and the ways that we treat ballots to make sure that no one unfairly influences someone’s vote. Hearing all the doubts (and some pretty wild conspiracies) out there has made me feel like I’m living in some kind of alternate reality because I know that they couldn’t be further from the truth! 

What the skeptics may not know is that, aside from plenty of rules and regulations around polling places, there are local election officials supervising the process to make sure we all follow the letter of the law. As a volunteer, my job is to make sure we do everything the right way so that our democracy works for everyone. 

At the end of the day, it’s not about me. I originally got involved in elections because I wanted to make sure every eligible voter could be heard, simple as that. And after working two elections with my fellow volunteers and election officials, I can tell you that they feel the same way. Our goal is to make sure that America continues to be a country of, by, and for the people, personal opinions and politics aside. From the moment we walk through the doors into our school gym, we aren’t Democrats or Republicans—we’re Americans committed to making sure that we play our part for the good of the whole.   

I hope that hearing about my experience puts some of your fears to rest, Hesitant. I understand being unsure about something that feels as big, important, and complex as a national election, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s that democracy happens at the local level first. Our democracy relies on the trust we have in each other, in our local officials, and in the integrity of our neighbors. Feel free to share this with a skeptic in your life—it may start an interesting conversation!

My best, 

Lila