One person one vote is and has been the law, but over the years historically and more recently in my own life this right has been expanded to include others not considered persons, such as women and people of color and those between the ages of 18 and 21.
All citizens born here or naturalized have the right to vote. It is not a privilege to be earned. This must be acknowledged and respected.
I am all for making sure each voter is a citizen, but once that has been established by voter registration, that right should not be challenged by poll taxes or literacy tests designed to deny a vote.
Certainly having lived a long life is not a suspected crime. Why would an elderly person with no need of a passport or driver’s license after years of being a registered voter suddenly need a picture ID to cast a ballot? Or a disabled veteran registered to vote, possibly unable to drive, with an expired passport, have to prove citizenship with a picture ID? How does anyone become a suspected illegal?
Or is this not about having only citizens voting in our elections?
The founding fathers did not provide for all of us to vote. Fact. We have grown into the nation we are through suffering and sacrifice. Whatever this fear is, it cannot be healthy or proper for our development as a nation. Let’s not fight among ourselves. Let us work together and share the burden of governing with all our citizens.
Must there be a lack of trust in the goodness and respect of our fellow citizens? Can we stand united in these United States?
Christina Krauz
Grand Marais
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