Our elections are not without challenges, and I have previously written in this newspaper about the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of our system. The Pillars of the Community initiative — a bipartisan program that seeks to restore public trust in elections — has proven this to me beyond any doubt.

Community members gathered at Stewart Memorial CME Church in Mobile to pray ahead of Tuesday’s general election. Pastor Marvin Lue of the church said this election has been a highly contentious one, so he hopes holding a prayer service will help ease election anxiety.