Efforts to confuse and intimidate Washington voters must stop for democracy’s sake | Opinion

With democracy on the ballot, we must safeguard every vote.

The integrity of our democratic process is fundamental to the health of our nation. Yet, in recent years, we’ve seen an alarming increase in attempts to undermine this cornerstone of American society — even here in Washington state. From blatant voter confusion tactics to suggestions of placing ballot boxes in gun ranges, these efforts threaten the very foundation of fair and accessible elections. As we approach another crucial election year, we must recognize these threats and stand firm in defense of our democratic institutions.

The ‘Three Bobs’ Incident

This past May, Washington state witnessed a troubling attempt to manipulate our electoral process. An Olympia-based Republican operative recruited two men named “Bob Ferguson” to file for governor of Washington — an apparent effort to confuse voters and undermine the campaign of Democratic frontrunner and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. This wasn’t just a harmless prank but a calculated move that could have disenfranchised tens of thousands of voters.

Swift action by the Ferguson campaign, exercising established Washington law, brought the matter to a resolution. However, had the two fraudulent candidates not dropped out, many Washingtonians could have accidentally voted for the wrong “Bob Ferguson,” effectively nullifying their voice in this crucial election.

This incident is not isolated. We’ve seen similar tactics employed nationwide, often followed by attempts to spin the narrative and shift blame. In Washington, some commentators attacked Ferguson for defending the integrity of our elections, conveniently ignoring who created the problem in the first place. This is akin to accusing firefighters of arson while the arsonist walks free.

Voter Intimidation?

More concerning still are the suggestions made by some political figures that undermine the accessibility and security of our voting process. Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert — who recently said, “I love Donald Trump’s policies…On policy, we’re aligned” — raised eyebrows when he suggested placing ballot drop boxes in gun stores and firing ranges “where we know we can protect our votes.” This proposal not only implies that our current voting system is insecure (it isn’t) but it is threatening and creates a very intimidating voter environment.

Washington’s elections are already safe and secure. According to the Washington Secretary of State’s office, our state has multiple safeguards, including signature verification, secure drop boxes, and a robust auditing processes. This is why when Trump attacked the United States Post Office in a blatant political attempt to undermine vote-by-mail — Ferguson went to court in Eastern Washington and stopped him, ensuring that millions of votes across the country were counted.

Washington’s vote-by-mail system combines convenience with robust security. It allows voters to participate in our democracy from the comfort of their homes while maintaining the highest standards of election integrity.

Protecting elections

As a former Tacoma city councilmember who has worked to expand access to voting rights, I’ve seen firsthand how fragile our democracy can be. We cannot take it for granted by electing politicians who align themselves with those seeking to restrict voting access or undermine faith in our electoral process.

With democracy truly on the ballot this year, we need to exercise our rights and use our mailboxes and our drop boxes — with pride, confidence and free of intimidation. We must remain vigilant against attempts to confuse voters, intimidate citizens or roll back the voting rights we’ve fought so hard to secure.

Our democracy is not a given; it requires constant defense and nurturing. As we approach this crucial election, let’s commit to protecting the integrity of our voting process and ensuring that every eligible voter in Washington can make their voice heard. The health of our democracy depends on it.

Keith Blocker served two terms on the Tacoma City Council.