Americans should be proud of their record 2020 election turnout – achieved in spite of fears of Covid-19, long lines, reduced voting and drop box locations. It shows that citizens love our democracy and believe in elections as the way to make their voices heard.

We should also be proud of what election officials — our neighbors in every community — do to honor the principle that every voter matters and every vote counts.

• Track from start to finish and verify the identity of each ballot to ensure that each voter casts one ballot and that every eligible vote is counted accurately.

• Prepare all year to ensure that every law is followed, every vote is counted, and the results carefully noted.

This year, their crucial work will require our patience and trust. The pandemic led to record absentee voting, so it will take election officials longer to count every vote and determine which candidate “we the people” have chosen — especially in states that count early ballots last. Results in some states may take days to call.

Let’s honor our democracy and those who dedicate themselves to upholding it by respectfully allowing them to do their work on behalf of “we the people.”

Steve Gehlert

West Newbury