We've been political foes. We're uniting to build trust in Wisconsin elections. | Opinion

Election integrity has taken on new meaning to activists on each side of the aisle. Claims of election fraud have dominated the conversation since 2020 and attempts to have a constructive dialogue about securing our elections has become increasingly politicized. That stifling of conversation is not only concerning, but dangerous.

Elections people can trust are integral to a functioning democracy and here in Wisconsin our election system has taken a reputational hit. Both political parties will tell you this is the most important election of our lifetime, but ensuring the votes are counted properly will dominate the landscape in the Badger state over the coming months leading to the Nov. 5 election.

This isn’t something that only matters in 2024. This issue matters in every election from Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.

We want to restore trust in Wisconsin's election systems

We are launching the bipartisan Democracy Defense Project to help restore trust in our election system. We come from different political parties and have different political ideologies, but we share one common goal; promoting fair elections in Wisconsin. We want Wisconsinites from all 72 counties to trust our process and show the country how fair elections are conducted.

Transparency is the cornerstone of integrity and shining a positive light on the safeguards in place to protect the vote here in Wisconsin is the first step in restoring confidence in our system. People have enough worries in their lives, wondering whether your vote will count shouldn’t be one of them.

While we may not always agree on the ‘how,’ we do agree our election infrastructure is safe. Voters recently voted to pass a referendum banning private funds in election administration to remove any questions of the veracity or intent behind big donations from outside, private actors, something Republicans championed following 2020. Democrats on the other hand called for support of secured ballot drop boxes, something Republicans have traditionally opposed but have indicated they would not challenge further if the Supreme Court reinstates them.

Republicans and Democrats both understand Wisconsin elections are among the safest in the nation, bolstered by the microscope we’ve been under the past four years. The protections we have in place, and more protections that continue to be discussed in the legislature, exemplify continuous improvements born out of 2020. It’s our job to point out these improvements so everyone has confidence when they cast their ballot this fall.

There are active attempts to shake trust in democracy

And this effort won’t end there. We are in this for the long haul, countering mis- and dis-information attempting to shake your trust, dissuade you from making your voice heard, and silence you and your neighbors at the ballot box.

Our country was born on principles not found in many places around the world. Our government of the people, by the people, for the people, upends itself every two years in the form of elections, without firing a single shot. It is sometimes easy to forget this peaceful transition of power is something that has set our nation apart in our nearly 250 year history.

Don't believe the lies: Wisconsin voters can have confidence in our election system.

This example we’ve come to set for the world means so much more than the whims of those who would attempt to uproot the system for power. Our elections are a beacon for those who look to have a say in the way their country is run, even if it is simply the ability to cast a ballot without fear of retribution.

For this reason, we are coming together as Democrats and Republicans to stand up and loudly proclaim the sanctity of our elections. We will celebrate the strides made to keep them secure, call out the bad actors sowing distrust, and build a coalition of support to bring this issue to the forefront in 2024 and beyond. We hope you will join us in this bipartisan effort and build a better future for Wisconsin and for the nation.

Mandela Barnes, a Democrat, is the former Lt. Governor of Wisconsin; J.B. Van Hollen, a Republican, is the former Attorney General; Scott Klug, a Republican, is a former member of Congress; and Mike Tate is the former chair of the Wisconsin Democrat Party.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Don't believe people trying to shake trust in Wisconsin elections