As Election Day nears, Americans need to prepare for possible turmoil while all the votes are counted. Based on his own words and past actions, Donald Trump will probably declare himself the winner on Nov. 5, even though it’s not true — the final election results simply won’t be ready by then.

Due to the “red mirage” effect, early vote counts on election night will likely show Republicans leading, since in-person same-day votes are counted first and often favor Republicans. However, the full vote tally, including early and mail-in ballots, which usually favor Democrats, will take days to complete, showing the final accurate results.

Such a hasty (and dishonest) claim could mislead many people. We must not not fall into that trap. We must not be fooled by premature claims of victory by him. Americans deserve to see the full vote counting process completed fairly and accurately.

Dec. 11 is the certification deadline, and the final electoral vote count occurs on Jan. 6 under the ovesight of the president of the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris. This allows time for any challenges and ensures all votes are counted.

Let’s not be fooled by early declarations or demands for rushed results. Every vote is essential, and our democracy depends on patience, vigilance, and our commitment to an accurate voting process. In America, every voice has a right to be heard — and every vote must be counted. Let’s honor this during this critical election.

Lawrence Pareles

Florence