The world is full of unsung heroes — the farm workers who grow and harvest our food, the warehouse workers who load the trucks that deliver the goods we need, the technicians who maintain the utilities that power our homes and the equipment that helps us heal in hospitals — and the election workers who make our voting process work.

They are our friends, our neighbors, and the familiar faces we see at church or in the grocery store. They are the dedicated people who have tirelessly ensured the smooth functioning of the voting process for decades. These people play a crucial role in upholding the democratic principles upon which our society is built.

That is why it is so disheartening to see election workers subjected to harassment, threats, and an overall hostile environment in some parts of our country.

Thankfully, such mistreatment does not occur in Lycoming County as far as we know. We believe our election workers are respected and appreciated for their dedication and their integrity, and we like to think that our community stands united in its commitment to supporting and protecting them. The people we know understand that without these essential workers the freedoms and rights we all treasure would be impossible.

American Presidents know better than anyone the importance of our election process. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared, “The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter,” and Lyndon B. Johnson called voting “the basic right without which all others are meaningless.”

The Lycoming County Progressives, in concert with all the good people of our community, lift up and salute our election workers. Let’s let them know we value and respect them and the work they do.

The next time you meet any of them anywhere, please thank them for their service.

MICHAEL HEYD

Montoursville

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom