Vote Early and in Person

Donald Trump's looniness about elections is both red meat for his base and a pretext for doing whatever he thinks he can get away with to "find the votes" he wants in the next election. Accordingly, his legislative efforts at "reform" should serve as a shot across the bow.

It does not nelp at all to hear that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is now offering the kind of "reassurance" that sounds like a threat. Namely, he says that ICE agents might show up at polling places on Election Day -- but just to address "threats" to said polling places, or to serve warrants.

Knowing Trump's hostility to voting by people who look like they might be foreign, and to voting by mail, it might be worth considering how to hedge one's bets this November.

Fortunately, Washington Monthly has put out some guidance. Here are its main points, which the article elaborates upon:

• Vote early in person.
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to vote. Help people get to the polls.
• Record and report.

The advice concerning recording voter intimidation is particularly valuable, as it includes how to spot intimidation, how to comport oneself, and what to do with any evidence. The piece also wisely cautions against "do[ing] the administration's work" by panicking or overhyping the risk.

-- CAV