By Dale Livingston | August 2025
In today’s political climate, one label is hurled more than any other: Election Denier. It has become the go-to slur for anyone who dares to ask questions about how our elections are run. But let’s be clear: asking questions is not denial — it is the essence of civic responsibility. Those who raise concerns are not trying to tear down our democracy; they are defending it. They are, in fact, Election Defenders.
Elections form the foundation of our Republic. They are not the property of politicians or bureaucrats. They belong to the people — funded by taxpayers and entrusted to public oversight. When citizens step forward with questions, it is not because they wish to undermine confidence in the system, but because they expect transparency, honesty, and accountability. Without those, the very concept of “consent of the governed” collapses.
Red Flags That Demand Scrutiny
Across the country — and here in Maryland — voters have noticed troubling signs:
- Changing vote totals on live broadcasts. Numbers should only go up as ballots are counted. When they go down, it raises legitimate suspicion.
- Excluding the public from observing ballot counts. Elections are the public’s business. Blocking transparency invites distrust.
- Dismissive officials. When election administrators roll their eyes at citizen questions or brush aside inquiries, they erode trust in the very system they are sworn to protect.
- Ignored federal oversight. In Maryland, our State Election Administrator has declined to address questions raised by the Department of Justice. Brushing aside scrutiny doesn’t make concerns disappear — it magnifies them.
The real denial is not coming from the public. It is coming from election insiders who refuse to acknowledge glaring problems, respond to legitimate concerns, or provide measurable proof that our elections are secure.
Maryland’s Crisis of Centralization
Maryland’s election system faces another challenge: the creeping takeover of local authority by the State Board of Elections. County boards once exercised real oversight — hiring directors, approving election judges, reviewing reports, maintaining bylaws, and conducting canvasses. Now, much of that power has been centralized in Annapolis.
When the State Administrator inserts themselves into local decisions — even into the evaluation of county election directors — it robs local boards of their independence. This isn’t oversight; it’s control. Taxpayers are left funding boards that have little real authority beyond attending meetings and rubber-stamping decisions handed down from the top.
Who Are the Real Defenders?
The people who show up at meetings, write letters, observe canvasses, and demand answers are not enemies of democracy. They are its guardians. By contrast, officials who dismiss public questions and consolidate control while refusing transparency are the true deniers — denying the public the proof of election integrity that citizens deserve.
The American people are not “Election Deniers.” They are, and always will be, Election Defenders.
