All-mail election needs immediacy

Over the last few months, all eyes have been on Washington’s 16-year-old vote-by-mail system.

National media has been holding it up as an example of what should become the norm nationwide. But should it?

Yes, we have fastidious local election employees resolving problems. And yes, we have years of experience making vote-by-mail work. But, after watching what’s happening outside our state, it’s clear the nation isn’t ready for all-mail elections, whether it’s our system or another state’s.

Voting by mail appears to erode confidence in the electoral system. Nationally, we’ve seen it, as ballots...