Every American newspaper should ask every elected official on the local ballot, from drain commissioner to U.S. senator, one question: Do you believe the Big Lie?

Putting them all on record would be an incalculably valuable public service. Every newspaper would deserve a Pulitzer Prize.

Rephrase the question. Make it: “Was the 2020 presidential election rigged?”

Yes or no answers. Unequivocal. No waffling.

Publish the results prominently. Give special note to any officeholder too cowardly to answer.

It will be the most-read copy you’ve published in a long time. Your subscribers will find it useful on election day to know where all their mayors and council members and sheriffs and state reps and the rest stand.

It will be interesting to see how many, when cornered, have courage to acknowledge an obvious fact Donald J. Trump has denied almost every day for four years.

All politics is local. Go for it.

TOM W. FERGUSON

Alpena