“All politics is local” is a famous aphorism that many forget amid the overbearing national media. But the numerous recent censures by local GOP organizations of arrogant politicians illustrate the untapped power of grassroots activism. Our unique system of federalism was designed for most power to be held by the states and the people. While Congress wastes its time and our money by infringing on Trump supporters’ First Amendment rights, state legislators can step up and save our country. In most conservative states, the legislatures meet only in the first half of the year, and the Texas legislature is in session only once every two years. So the window of opportunity is now.
Establishing election integrity should be the top priority in every state legislature, after the fiasco of the recent presidential election. Polls continue to show that most Republicans think the election was unfairly conducted for a number of unprecedented reasons, and that Joe Biden did not legitimately win.
A presidential election that half the voters regard as illegitimate cannot be salvaged by barbed wire. Yet, one does not have to walk far in Washington, D.C. to see the history, grandeur, and beauty of our nation’s capital obscured by harsh metal barriers. Whatever happened to the liberal idea that walls are immoral? An American presidency needs to be based on election integrity, not thousands of troops stationed at our Capitol.
However, whether you are separated from Congress by a big fence or by thousands of miles, you still have a job to do to secure fair elections. After all, the Constitution specifically gives authority over election laws to the states, not the federal government. Start by looking up what election laws currently exist in your state. To find this out, contact your local precinct captain, local party organization, or state legislators. If all else fails, get in touch with your state’s secretary of state. Once you have familiarized yourself with the laws on the books, find out what you can do to make them better. Does your state have mandatory voter ID? What about signature verification? It’s time for activists to take local action to protect America’s elections.
