Tom Barrett: Our elections are too important to sit on the sidelines

The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

It seems like every November we hear the same refrain about elections across the country but especially here in Wisconsin, where we’ve become a bellwether for the direction of the nation. We hear allegations of ballot dumps, widespread fraud, and conspiracies to pre-count ballots and swing elections by tens of thousands of votes overnight. 

Like many Wisconsinites, I read these headlines with concern. Not because of the claims themselves, which repeatedly fail to hold up, but because of what they reveal: a growing lack of trust in our neighbors and in the public servants who administer our elections. 

After a lifetime in public service, including nearly two decades as mayor of Milwaukee, I know that democracy does not sustain itself. It depends on trust. And trust requires people who are willing to stand up for the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable or politically inconvenient. 

That’s why, a few months ago, I took notice of the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan organization bringing Republicans and Democrats together to push back against misleading and outright false narratives about our elections here in Wisconsin and across the country. What stood out to me was not just the mission, but the messengers: former elected officials and public servants with long records of respecting election results, even when their preferred candidates lost. 

As I learned more, I found myself asking how I could help. I’ve spent my career working to make Wisconsin stronger, and I’ve been troubled by how far our election discourse has drifted from reality.

The simple truth is this: there is no mass conspiracy to overturn elections in Wisconsin. Our election systems are secure, yet for too long, too few voices have spoken up on behalf of the people who make our democracy work. Election administrators, clerks, and poll workers, many of them volunteers, are our neighbors. They show up early, stay late, follow the law, and take their responsibilities seriously. They deserve our respect, not suspicion.

As 2026 approaches, rebuilding faith in our elections is more urgent than ever. In recent years, both parties have, at times, cast doubt on election processes when outcomes didn’t go their way. Left unchecked, that skepticism corrodes confidence and discourages participation. It is critical to push back, to reassure voters their ballots will be counted and safeguards exist to detect and prosecute fraud when it occurs.

That is why I have joined the board of the Democracy Defense Project.

DDP has established itself as a credible, bipartisan voice willing to call balls and strikes, regardless of party when misinformation threatens public confidence. Whether challenging local officials who rely on narrow legal arguments to excuse errors that disenfranchise voters or pushing back against national proposals that would unnecessarily restrict lawful voting methods, the Democracy Defense Project has demonstrated a commitment to facts over fear and democracy over demagoguery.

The months ahead will not be easy. There will be efforts to mislead voters, partisan actors seeking to exploit outrage for political gain, and legal challenges aimed at discounting legitimately cast ballots. We’ve seen this before.

But Wisconsin has a proud tradition of civic engagement and fairness. Now is the time to come together and support the professionals who run our elections. If you have doubts, I encourage you to contact your local clerk’s office, attend a public test of voting equipment, or serve as a poll observer. Seeing the process up close has a way of cutting through the noise.

We are no strangers to contentious politics in Wisconsin. But what has always set us apart is our ability to disagree fiercely and still come together afterward. That spirit is what drives the Democracy Defense Project, and it’s what will carry us through the months ahead.

Our elections are too important to sit on the sidelines.- Barrett served as Milwaukee mayor from 2004 to 2021 before being appointed U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, serving from 2022 to 2025. He is a former member of Congress and served in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate. Read his bio.