Adding certainty to the equation

The setting sun brightens trees along Fletcher Schoolhouse Road in Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Certainty has been in short supply this year, but one important thing in this country remains certain: our natural tendency toward unity.

Even amid all the political furor and the pandemic, that essential quality of unity can still gain momentum through the good expressed in this world. One proof of that was the many young people in the U.S. who volunteered to be election workers for the first time. Along with that, election workers in general have demonstrated great professionalism and poise as they've diligently forged ahead with their work, including in battleground states where they face immense political pressure. They're working steadfastly for the greater good, and that should inspire the rest of us to do the same, whether it's through civic engagement or a different avenue.

Indeed, that engagement is more important than ever, to ensure that every vote is counted and the integrity of the system protected. Election officials in key battleground states are saying the process is working. The process of receiving and counting mail-in ballots is the same one that's been used for absentee ballots for years, said Kathy Boockvar, Pennsylvania's secretary of state, in a news conference Thursday evening.

"The strength of the integrity of this vote is really unparalleled," she said.

As legal challenges in these battlegrounds persist and the presidential race tightens, we can confidently know that the integrity built into the system will be sustained as counting continues. That virtue endures and reflects the enduring spirit of our democracy, its foundational strength, wisdom and poise in the face of adversity. Moving forward with that basis, we can remain vigilant and demand to see progress continue. That collective purpose is an important way to drive the unity-building we greatly need as a people. Maintaining the bedrock of our democracy is a powerful goal, and working together, nothing can stand in our way. Of that, I'm certain.

— Gareth Henderson