KT edit: The fairness of the elections

Mudslinging will continue, but there should be no compromises in ensuring a just election

No elections are perfectly fair and nowhere is campaigning for it an exercise in polite mannerisms. Yet, looking at the conventions of the Democrats and now the Republicans in the US, one does notice several firsts. Initially, it was former president Barack Obama who issued a stinging critique of US President Donald Trump, a deviation from the past traditions where former presidents have shied away from directly attacking the incumbent. Former first lady Michelle Obama, too, did not spare any effort in pointing how the last four years have made America poorer in terms of alliances and global trust. Her impassioned appeal at the Dem convention to save America recently was unprecedented.
Trump, on the other hand, is overshadowing all other speakers during the Republican National Convention and painting a gloomy picture of America in case the Democrats are allowed a win. He has questioned the fairness of the mail-in system and made claims that are putting fact-checkers to shame. If the question is about the integrity of the elections, there are solutions for that. Requesting and casting in-mail ballots early is a possible answer. Setting the stage early for this process could lessen chances of any delay in the postal service. In states and communities where Covid transmission levels are low, people can cast their votes in person. In these extraordinary times, transparency is the key. Mudslinging will continue, but there should be no compromises in ensuring a just election.