A year ago, a violent mob, led by unscrupulous politicians, invaded the Capitol in Washington and almost succeeded in preventing the democratic transmission of power.
The four previous presidents, including myself, have condemned these acts and confirmed the legitimacy of the 2020 election. There followed a brief hope that the insurrection would shock the country, prompting it to discuss the toxic polarization that threatens our democracy.
However, a year later, the promoters of the lie that the election was stolen took over a political party and instilled distrust in our electoral systems. These forces wield power and influence through relentless disinformation that continues to pit Americans against Americans.
According to the Center for Research on American Life, 36% of Americans — nearly 100 million adults across the political spectrum — agree that “the traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.” “.
The Washington Post recently reported that about 40% of Republican voters say they believe violent action against the government is sometimes justified.
Politicians in my home state of Georgia, as well as others such as Texas and Florida, used the distrust they generated to pass laws that empower party legislatures to intervene in electoral processes. They are trying to win by any means necessary, and many Americans are being persuaded to think and act this way, threatening to crumble the foundations of our security and democracy with frightening speed.
Today I fear that what we have fought so hard to achieve globally — the right to free and fair elections, without interference from authoritarian politicians who only seek to increase their own power — has become dangerously fragile in our country.
I personally encountered this threat in my own environment in 1962, when a city leader tried to steal my election to the Georgia State Senate. That was in the primary, and I challenged the fraud in court. In the end, a judge overruled the results, and I won the general election. After that, protecting and advancing democracy became a priority for me. As president, a primary objective was to institute majority rule in southern Africa and elsewhere.
After I left the White House and founded the Carter Center, we worked to promote fair, free, and orderly elections around the world. I led dozens of election observation missions in Africa, Latin America and Asia, starting with Panama in 1989, where I asked administrators a simple question: “Are you honest authorities or thieves?”
In each election, my wife, Rosalynn, and I have been moved by the courage and dedication of thousands of citizens who walked miles and waited in line from dusk until dawn to cast their first votes in free elections, renewing hope for themselves. and their countries and taking their first steps towards self-governance.
But I’ve also seen how new democratic systems — and sometimes established ones — can fall under military junta or power-hungry despots. Sudan and Myanmar are two recent examples.
For American democracy to last, we must demand that our leaders and candidates uphold the ideals of liberty and respect high standards of conduct.
First, while citizens may disagree on public policy, people of all political colors must agree on fundamental constitutional principles and norms of justice, civility, and respect for the rule of law. Citizens must be able to participate with peace of mind in transparent and secure electoral processes.
Allegations of electoral irregularities must be submitted in good faith for the courts to review, with all participants agreeing to accept their findings. And the electoral process must be conducted peacefully, without intimidation and violence.
Second, we must push for reforms that guarantee the security and accessibility of our elections and give the public confidence in the accuracy of the results. False claims of illegal voting and countless useless audits only take us away from democratic ideals.
Third, we must resist the polarization that is reshaping our identities around politics. We must focus on a few core truths: that we are all human, that we are all Americans, and that we have common hopes that our communities and our country will prosper.
We must find ways to reconnect in the face of division, respectfully and constructively, having civil discussions with family, friends and co-workers, and collectively resisting the forces that divide us.
Fourth, violence has no place in our politics, and we must act urgently to pass or strengthen laws that can reverse trends in the killing of personalities, intimidation and the presence of armed militias at events.
We must protect our election officials — who are trusted friends and neighbors of many of us — from threats to their security. Law enforcement agencies must be empowered to address these issues and engage in a national effort to come to terms with the past and present of racial injustice.
Finally, the spread of disinformation, especially on social media, must be tackled. We must reform these platforms and get into the habit of seeking accurate information. Corporate America and religious communities must encourage respect for democratic norms, participation in elections and efforts to contain disinformation.
Our great nation today teeters on the edge of a deepening abyss. Without immediate action, we run a real risk of civil conflict and the loss of our precious democracy. Americans must put aside differences and work together before it’s too late.
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