Congress has approved billions of dollars to fix water and sewer systems across the U.S. But getting that money to needy communities depends on how states define a key word.

With the American system of government at stake, citizens should resist being distracted from what matters most now: justice, accountability, and strengthening our democracy.

Seen from afar, the dynamics playing out in the Brazilian election are a clear example of the broader crisis of liberal democracy, with right-wing authoritarians in ascent globally.

Lies don’t have to spread far to cause problems.

The potential breadth and ambiguity of Section 3 creates a risk that the measure could be repurposed, against its original aims, in a way that hurts democracy.

Many state laws confirm that certification is not the venue to address claims of fraud, failed equipment, or other irregularities. But public misunderstanding and ambiguities in the law can still be exploited to great harm.