Counting the Votes: Patience Must Prevail

I empathize with the growing chorus of Americans calling for a quick and tidy conclusion to the presidential race. I would also like for nothing more than to resolve the remaining toss-up states and allow the eventual winner to begin the difficult work of planning for the next four years. The last few days have certainly added to our nation's elevated level of anxiety in a year that has had no shortage of stressors.

With that said, I don't believe it is healthy or necessary to rush a very delicate, complicated process. The most important thing is to reach an accurate final result that safeguards the legitimacy of the electoral process. There will be almost certainly be conspiracy theorists and demagogues who will never accept the result. This seems to be especially true if Joe Biden is eventually declared as President-Elect. Thus, we must be sure that the rest of the citizenry can see that we have fairly and undoubtedly rendered the most accurate outcome possible. 

Let's guarantee that the initial counts and possible recount process are conducted in ways that leave as few doubts as possible regarding the winners and losers. In addition concerns over the perceptions of legitimacy, I worry about the enhanced possibility for human error should we demand election workers to perform their duties well beyond what a person can do efficiently and effectively if exhausted and tired. Likewise, technology itself has the potential for error, which means that we have to first and foremost get this right before we get this finished.

Although I understand that fortitude everywhere is wearing thin, we must be patient and allow the system to function. Please remember that the folks managing elections in the states and counties are people too. They need sleep. They need rest. They need time with their families and a chance to recuperate. They are already facing long hours, considerable human contact, elevated risk of the coronavirus due to their jobs, and angry partisans demanding a resolution. Let's bear with them... and thank them for their service. 

Hang on just a little while longer, my fellow Americans! We are almost there.