Supporting local election officials will help protect our democracy | Opinion

May 6, 2022 | Mary B. McCord and Ari Mittleman | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

The very foundation of our democracy has been tested over the last two years. It has withstood the challenge so far, but the cracks are showing.

A cornerstone that has helped our republic withstand the storm has been the local election officials from both parties who have been administering our elections faithfully and fairly under increasingly challenging circumstances.

At a time when trust in our nation’s institutions – from elected officials to the media – has waned, local election officials continue to be respected by the electorate.

A recent statewide survey conducted by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion for Keep Our Republic found that county election officials are more trusted to provide the state with safe, secure, and accurate elections than the Commonwealth’s legislative, executive, and judicial institutions. Despite more than a year of conspiracy theories and misinformation about the 2020 election, two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters still trust these local officials, compared to fewer than half of voters who trust the legislature and the governor. …