The right to vote and the right to petition our government are among the most basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. These are foundational and central to the promise that ordinary citizens, not elites or institutions, ultimately hold power in America. Rights of this importance should be protected, respected, and made easier to exercise, not tangled in systems that create unnecessary confusion and distrust.

Counting votes, assuming they are legal and eligible votes, should be uncomplicated. Yet after nearly every major election, people are once again left waiting days or even weeks to learn who won. We live in an era where information moves across the world in seconds, financial transactions occur instantly, and identity can be verified securely through technology. It should be easier, not harder, to count votes quickly and confidently.