As far as I can tell, no one’s death resulted from the recent 2025 Election campaign. At least, not directly.
But there were heroes involved, according to the Colorado League of Women Voters. In fact, the LWV had announced that November 3, the day prior to this year’s November election, was ‘Election Hero Day’.
Election Hero Day is a nonpartisan, national celebration recognizing the tremendous contributions that election officials, their staff, and poll workers make to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all Americans. Taking place on November 3, 2025, nonprofits, business leaders, brands, public officials, and more will unite to honor the election heroes in our communities.
With your support, Election Hero Day will help boost election official morale ahead of Election Day and send a clear message to the public that we support our friends and neighbors who play such a vital role in preserving our democracy.
I hadn’t previously considered the idea that election officials were “Heroes”. They had always seemed like normal, everyday folks doing a job that was not terribly strenuous or dangerous.
So I looked up the definition, of “Hero”.
a: a mythological or legendary figure, often of divine descent, endowed with great strength or ability.
b: an illustrious warrior.
c: a person admired for achievements and noble qualities.
d: one who shows great courage.
e: a legendary priestess of Aphrodite loved by Leander.
Some might recall, from their study of Greek legends, the story of Hero, a priestess who dwelt in a tower in the town of Sestos, overlooking the narrow strait now known as the Dardanelles Strait. (It had a different name back then.)
Across the strait, in the town of Abydos, lived a young man named Leander who was willing to swim the strait to spend time with Hero.
Love will make a man do that kind of thing.
The swimming occurred at night, because Hero — as a priestess of the goddess Aphrodite — was supposedly a virgin, so their love affair needed to remain secret. Hero would place a torch atop her tower to guide Leander as he swam in the darkness, which was thoughtful. But also necessary.
Their love affair lasted through the summer, but when winter and its rough weather loomed, they agreed, very sensibly, to part for the season and resume their affair in the spring.
One stormy winter night, however, Leander saw the torch atop Hero’s tower. He attempted to swim to her, but halfway across, a strong winter wind extinguished Hero’s torch, and Leander lost his way and succumbed to the power of the waves. When Hero saw his lifeless body, she threw herself off the tower, to join him in the hereafter.
Love will make a woman do that kind of thing.
Obviously, this story has nothing at all to do with elections or with the Election Heroes that were honored on Election Hero Day, but it does address the dangers inherent in conducting a secret love affair when you’re supposed to be a virgin.
It’s a good thing that voting doesn’t involve swimming late at night, and that you don’t have to be a virgin.
Of the other definitions of “Hero”, the one that seems to fit the LWV celebration most closely is:
d: one who shows great courage.
Back in 2020, certain people — who will not be named — claimed that the election of Democrat Joe Biden had been “stolen” by way of a complex, multi-state conspiracy.
The morale of local election officials — who are rarely accused of being part of a complex, multi-state conspiracy — was negatively affected.
If we didn’t know better, it would be easy to assume that the “Election Hero” who needed to be celebrated was the Candidate running for office. That’s also not an easy job, these days. If you’re a Democrat, half the voters distrust you. If you’re a Republican, the other half distrust you.
The only way to try and avoid being distrusted by half the voters is to run as an Independent. But then, how can you trust someone who won’t take sides?
The election officials, meanwhile, are not supposed to take sides. Nor are they expected to. They’re expected to be fair and unbiased. But also show great courage.
As LWV stated:
These folks are on the front lines of elections and will interact with hundreds of voters throughout their work.
Sadly, there are now “front lines” when we hold an election. I remember, back in the days before mail ballots, standing in line to vote. But those were ordinary lines, like the lines at the grocery store. They have now become “front lines” where you might interact with hundreds of people who mean you harm.
Voting just ain’t what it used to be.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.