Letter to the editor: Citizens should step forward to volunteer for election

We cannot have repeats of the spring nationwide primary debacles. The November election is a matter of life or death, not only because of the coronavirus deaths. The life of American democracy is at stake.

Mail-in voting in states like Oregon, which has worked out for years, should not be an issue. But other states trying to set up almost total mail-in systems in just days or months has proven ineffective, delaying election results for days and leading to unreceived ballots either by the voter or by the polling sites by due date.

Consequently, I ask we citizens volunteer en masse to staff sufficient polling sites as clerks and judges for early voting at least two weeks prior to Election Day and on Election Day. That will reduce long lines and time standing in lines. Certainly, there will still be risk of exposure to the virus, especially if masks are not worn. But too many people fought and died for voting rights for all, regardless of race, creed, sex.

We must be brave enough to staff adequate voting sites, register and vote in person, while also allowing manageable mail-in voting. Paper ballot receipts would also be a great safeguard against cyber fraud on voting machines.

Bruce Braden

Carmel, Ind.