La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

During October, just three weeks from the Nov. 8 election, Republicans have reignited their misinformation campaigning in Skagit County. In Burlington, Mount Vernon and Fidalgo Island, residents are reporting the door knocking of members of the “Election Integrity Committee.” All reports are the same.

The person appearing at your door will be an unassuming person warning you to not mail in your election ballot early. They will distribute Republican-only campaign literature. You will be encouraged to take your ballot to your municipal in-person polling location the last day, Nov. 8.

Their unfounded claim is that during the 2020 election there were 1,600 ballot discrepancies that may have compromised the election. They claim to know this because a group of “concerned citizens” went door to door after the election to verify information. Who were these people? They were not authorized by county officials.

There are many possible reasons why on election day any number of voters might not be able to get to their polling locations. This is an effort to suppress voting. Residents are urged to vote early. We cannot allow subversion of our right to vote. Vote early and use the drop boxes.

Charles Ivory

Mount Vernon