Masked assailants raiding offices, thousands protesting in the streets, hundreds of arrests and 11 dead. Those are just some of the headlines out of Venezuela this past week as both the sitting president and his opposition claim to be victors in recent elections.

Both parties claim to have evidence showing they received more votes but official tallies have not yet been released. In the absence of proof, claims, accusations and violence have quickly moved to fill the void.

Venezuela, while very different from the United States and Mississippi, is a reminder of what can happen when the integrity of free and fair elections is called into question. The will of the people, the democratic process, is only as strong as the moral fiber of our political candidates and their supporters.

The U.S. experienced that firsthand almost four years ago when unsubstantiated claims of election fraud culminated in a violent mob attacking the nation’s capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

U.S. intelligence agencies have previously said foreign actors — including Russia, China and Iran — worked to influence American voters in the 2020 elections with disinformation and propaganda. Those same agencies warned earlier this month that the 2024 presidential election is again being targeted by the nation’s enemies.

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and should not be taken lightly. The elected officials responsible for organizing and conducting our elections here in Lauderdale County certainly understand the weight of what they are being tasked to do and go above and beyond to make sure the entire process is secure, fair and transparent.

Voters with concerns about an election’s integrity are also able, and encouraged, to be a part of the solution. Conducting elections takes a small army, and election commissioners are always looking for residents willing to be poll workers. What better way to prevent any election shenanigans than being on site at the polls all day long?

Those with an affinity toward a particular candidate or party can also see if their preferred person is looking for poll watchers. Poll watchers are tasked with observing a particular precinct to make sure everything is done by the book.

For many, taking a day off to volunteer or serve as a poll worker is not feasible, but there are still ways to get involved. Although not well attended by the general public, the process of counting the ballots after polls close at 7 p.m. is open to all. Just head down to the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk’s office on Election Day and see the process for yourself.

We’ve seen what happens when the trust that an election was conducted fairly is broken, and we’ve seen the price such accusations cause our communities to pay.

We cannot allow the integrity of our elections to become political.