WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Since the country was founded, voting has been a fundamental right that people have fought and died for. In the last election, the security of every ballot was called into question.

About a quarter of Americans say they have concerns about how votes are processed, according to a PBS/NPR/Marist poll. The numbers also show that widespread voter fraud is very rare.

“An American is more likely to be struck by lightning than to be interpreted as another voter at the polls,” Issue One’s Carah Ong Whaley said.

In recent weeks, several states have tried to change their early voting process.

Weeks ago, there was a GOP-led push in Nebraska to change the way the state awards electoral college votes. Going from one vote per congressional district to winner-take-all.

Georgia politicians are squabbling over new voting rules that would allow counties to delay vote certification, manual counting and other changes until days before Election Day.

“It would have allowed election records to be altered, providing greater access to election records,” Whaley said. “It would have expanded how people could intimidate people who work on our elections.”

Poll workers said there were new threats to election security in recent years. One of these is physical violence against electoral officials, who are 80% women.

“Our elections are run by people who come from our community,” Whaley said. “Our friends, our neighbors. Most likely our grandmothers.”

In the county of St. LOUIS, Missouri — Democratic Council of Elections director Eric Fey says he hasn’t faced threats, but knows many colleagues who have. Fey says disinformation is a real threat to the electoral process.

“People have questions — talk to your local election officials,” Fey said. “Don’t keep reading a bunch of stuff on social media. Go to your local election office.”

Fey says on top of the conversation… transparency combined with checks and balances secures your ballot after submission. He works with his Republican counterpart every step of the way.

“Chain of custody is paramount,” Fey said. “This is not just for the ballot, but for the voting equipment itself and a number of things that we manage. Much of what election officials do is open to the public, counting votes…auditing, manipulating signatures.

Both election experts say if you have real concerns … want to improve the process – get involved.

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