The midterm elections are rapidly approaching.

We all have issues and programs that we think are key for a candidate to address and solve. Some of these issues are the economy, climate change, immigration reform, taxes, women’s reproductive rights and many more.

One of the challenges we all face in making the important decisions we need to make are negative advertisements. Most of these are outright lies or misguided information making it difficult to properly evaluate candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. We all need to fact check all of the claims made in order to make an informed decision. Good luck with that, but I hope voters try.

In my opinion there is another issue that is more important than all the other elements of this election. The primary object of one’s vote is to protect our democracy. This is important because of the election deniers.

Because of the thoughts and actions being taken by people believing the “Big Lie,” poll workers across the country are receiving threats every day, making it hard for them to do the job of assuring a fair and free election.

There are approximately 300 candidates running who don’t believe that Joe Biden is the president of the United States. If we allow these candidates to win, it would be the end of our democracy forever. I hope people think for a minute how that would affect our children and grandchildren’s future.

I ask everyone to study the facts, go to the polls and vote to save our freedoms.

Ken Johnson, Buckfield