Integrity: firm adherence to a code of moral values—uprightness.

A rap star spouts antisemitic and anti-Black remarks and refuses to apologize.

A basketball star apologizes for antisemitic remarks only after he was suspended for his actions.

A Supreme Court Justice will not step aside from legal decision-making on any issue brought before the court regarding the 2020 election involving the former president; an election in which his wife personally urged 29 Arizona state legislators to help overturn the former president’s defeat. The same justice has not been censured for failing to report that his wife received $680,000 in income over the past five years from a conservative think tank.

Today’s elections—particularly in key battleground states—are likely to be challenged by fear, intimidation, and possible violence from those who cling to their denial of the legitimacy of the 2020 election and belief that today’s election could be fraudulent despite no evidence.

Many election deniers running for office appear poised to be elected and would have the power to overturn the will of the people in future elections and continue to spread the same lies as Donald Trump, a small-minded, hellish man whose only talent is demeaning rhetoric. Many of his disciples would not commit to accepting the results of Tuesday’s election. Among them is a former news anchor who’s running for governor, a former journalist who knows better, as do the silent majority of Republicans in Congress.

Even though many of those same republicans talk about the economy—a serious issue for all of us—election denialism is the default setting on much of the Republican rally circus.

However, democracy is not the only thing on the ballot; America’s integrity is, as well.

Today, integrity is used more as a political prop than a principled act of moral wholeness.

This is not who we are. This is not what we stand for.

While Lincoln had his haters, Donald Trump’s wanton destruction of government institutions would be the beginning of the dismantling of our democracy and the rise of authoritarianism aided and abetted by the candidates he has blessed. Despite losing a fair election certified by all states, including Republican; despite calling his own vice president a coward, the former president sat in the Oval Office and watched insurrection unfold on TV tearing apart America’s moral integrity.

During his presidency and the past two years he has been out of office, Donald Trump has elevated prejudice and prevarication to an art form by using words to deceive and manipulate his supporters pitting American against American, spawning antisemitism, and hate to justify violence.

Democracy has faced battles before, but it always stood for right over wrong, freedom over tyranny. Now, the battle for the uprightness of American democracy is existential.

My plea to all voters no matter your party or independent status–to those who truly value the republic for which we stand—is this:

Stand for Democracy!

Stand for Integrity!

Show your children, by example, that doing the right thing matters.

Stand for What’s Right!

Your country needs you now, more than ever.