Protecting, expanding popular vote crucial
for a democracy
I read with dismay the article by Mr. Hastings in the Jan. 31 edition of West Hawaii Today against mail-in balloting. The arguments made in the article are largely imaginative, and none are sufficient to reduce the value of mail-in balloting. Let’s look briefly at these arguments.
Argument 1 is that people who fill out mail-in ballots can be subject to pressure to mark their ballots as others want. In the world of the imagination, anything is possible, but one needs evidence for a supposition like this, and Mr. Hastings does not offer any.
Argument 2 is that crucial information about a candidate or platform may emerge after a person has mailed a ballot. However, usually the background of candidates and the value of political stands are well known before an election day. The reverse may be true in the event of smear campaigns. Mail-in balloting has the advantage of being free from these campaigns, which usually occur just before election day.
Argument 3 is that while mail-in balloting may increase voting by people who haven’t previously voted, many of these people may be influenced by others to vote. What kind of an argument is this? In-person voters may also be influenced by others to vote.
Argument 4 is that in-person voting is an enriching ritual. However, I haven’t heard anyone argue against in-person voting. Mail-in voting doesn’t prevent in-person voting.
Argument 5 is that mail-in balloting is subject to fraud. Mr. Hastings says, “I doubt there was significant fraud in our last election,” so invalidates his own argument.
The reason I was dismayed by Mr. Hastings’s article is that I think arguments that limit the popular vote are ill-advised. In the last election, the reason that former President Donald Trump claimed mail-in voting was invalid was to limit the voting population. Of course, Mr. Trump knew he could not win the popular vote. Protecting and expanding the popular vote is crucial for a democracy.
Michael Keller
Kailua-Kona
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321 or via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
