Boyd is a former professor and science writer. He lives in Daleville.
Based on the outlines of democracy, if you are a citizen you must be able to vote in any presidential or other election. Unfortunately, in the United States, this is not always true. Donald Trump has said the presidential election system is rigged. Most newspapers(including the Roanoke Times), TV and other communication outlets have jumped all over this story. They have declared Trump unfit for any office, including dog catcher, because such a statement makes the United States look like a banana republic rather than a democracy. Trump is right; the political system is rigged, but for reasons different from what the media suggests.
All of the news organizations have used the term “rigged” to mean that voter fraud is involved. Everyone knows (except those who believe they are losing a political contest) that voter fraud is a false premise. Studies have conclusively shown that voter fraud is practically nonexistent.
So what is rigged in our presidential voting system? It’s called voter suppression, but not the kind that has been used in Republican-controlled states where laws are passed to make it difficult for minorities, like blacks and Latinos, to even register for voting. No, the suppression I talk about has been going on for many years and is called “closed primaries.”
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