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I’m sure most everyone saw the photos of Wisconsin voters standing in line waiting to vote last Tuesday. I applaud them for their determination to exercise their constitutional right to vote. However, to have them risk their health because the Wisconsin Legislature fought the governor’s desire to delay the vote until safer times is appalling, There was a concerted effort in Wisconsin to minimize voting participation by limiting poll locations and fewer poll workers. This is called voter suppression.

COVID-19 has created a whole new world. That is why we need new methods to allow voter participation. The election in November is critical, and it’s important that all eligible voters have access to ballots. We need mail-in voting, and we need to begin implementing it now.

There are some in Washington, D.C., who oppose voting by mail but our own Sen. Amy Klobuchar is sponsoring a bill to mandate the federal government promote and fund mail-in ballots. There is no basis that mail-in balloting encourages cheating and fraud. While a few isolated incidents have occurred, they are no more prevalent than the few incidents that can occur with in-person voting. There are procedures that can address opportunities to cheat. Placement of ballot boxes for voters to drop in their ballot removes third party involvement, postage paid return envelopes and ballot tracking all have been successful in states currently using voting by mail.

Call your congressman and urge him to support mail-in voting for America’s upcoming election, and don’t forget to vote for the candidates who will fight for everyone’s right to vote, candidates like Dan Feehan.

Judith Bird

Byron