I was disappointed to learn that Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew told a Pennsylvania Senate committee that his constituents want to eliminate no-excuse mail-in voting (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots, another disputes that,” March 23, TribLIVE).
He claimed that 20,000 county residents were “potentially” disenfranchised as a result. He stated that many believe that mail-in ballots are “ripe for fraudulent activity.” He noted that the truth in this remains to be seen.
Really, Mr. Chew? Despite the fact that this lie has been debunked roundly by Republican and Democratic leaders alike? This pandering to people’s basest fears by repeating this lie only spreads divisiveness and promotes voter suppression.
It is true that the Election Bureau was overwhelmed. So the answer is to abolish the best method of ensuring that every American gets a chance to vote rather than fix the bureau’s problems? They were overwhelmed and ill-prepared. The blame for that debacle lies squarely in the lap of the county commissioners.
Approximately one-third of the votes cast in the presidential election were cast by mail-in ballot. This speaks to the need to continue this practice so that more people of all parties can vote. The past incompetent management of this practice does not lessen its importance.
Do you want to talk about voter fraud? Voter suppression on the part of those who have pledged to serve and uphold our democracy is the greatest fraud of all.
Lisa Cannon
Greensburg