Are Democrats up to the job of preventing the next coup?

Kristina Karamo, Republican candidate for Michigan Secretary of State, speaks at a rally on April 2. Karamo is one of dozens of Trump-supporting election conspiracists running for key administrative and elections posts. (AP Photos)

In 1980, because I was an idealistic conservative eager to do my bit for democracy, I volunteered for my local Republican Party as a poll watcher. When polls closed, election officials asked us to gather around as they opened the backs of the machines one by one and tallied the votes.

We could all see what was happening, and we all gave our assent that the totals were correct.