Questioning anyone’s citizenship diminishes that person’s ability to exercise his or her right to vote.

In today’s polarized society, it appears that a minority view currently prevails. I feel that the requirement of a photo ID adds another layer of discouragement to a majority of voters (especially elderly voters and people who have fallen on hard times).

The likelihood that a non-Mainer’s views might actually influence an election pales in comparison to the demonstrated success of extremist views to prevail when a majority of registered voters don’t have the desire, time or ability to vote.

The Republican initiative to require a photo ID before exercising our right to vote is not a free-election initiative, nor is it about reducing voter fraud. This initiative is more about promoting exclusivist views than it is about providing an equal opportunity for all citizens to participate in state and local governance.

Essentially, there isn’t a credible good reason for it, but instead pretty obvious bad reasons. Can I spell it out? The far right doesn’t want poor people or students to vote, since those groups trend toward the left in voting. That’s no reason to restrict access to the polls.

To deny any legal, adult resident the right to vote, is a denial of the right of participatory citizenship.

Eric Robbins

Sidney