As I write this, it is the federal holiday to honor the birthday of civil rights hero, Martin Luther King Jr. On the opinion page, there is a My Turn essay by Michael A. Nelson titled “Support Secure Voting.” In Congress, the opportunities to pass important voting rights legislation will likely die due to lack of Republican support and two Democratic senators who refuse to even let the proposals be debated by allowing the opposing party to filibuster. I felt that I needed to respond to Mr. Nelson at this critical juncture on this important day honoring the man who said: “Voting is the foundation stone for political action.”
As I write this, it is the federal holiday to honor the birthday of civil rights hero, Martin Luther King Jr. On the opinion page, there is a My Turn essay by Michael A. Nelson titled “Support Secure Voting.” In Congress, the opportunities to pass important voting rights legislation will likely die due to lack of Republican support and two Democratic senators who refuse to even let the proposals be debated by allowing the opposing party to filibuster. I felt that I needed to respond to Mr. Nelson at this critical juncture on this important day honoring the man who said: “Voting is the foundation stone for political action.”
Mr. Nelson makes claims that having a facial ID in order to vote is the most important issue surrounding voting and therefore mail-in voting must be abolished. There is no evidence for voter fraud in mail-in voting. The safeguards that are in place work to protect the process.
Voter suppression tactics occurring all over the country, thankfully not in Hawaii, are threats to democracy. Mr. Nelson may see them as ways to build trust in the process. Voter turnout rate was high in 2020: 66.8% nationwide was considered impressive. Normally it’s lower. Those of us who believe that voting is the foundation stone for democracy, want more people to vote. However, there are those like our former president who would rather not make it easier for people to vote, believing that Republicans would never win again if we allowed voting rights legislation to pass. Rather than try to win over voters through legislation or policy, their tactic is voter suppression and lying about voter fraud.
Mr. Nelson writes that the filibuster protects the minority party from unjust legislation. Isn’t voter suppression unjust? What the voting rights bills attempt to do is prevent voter suppression in the many ways it is being attempted across the country. Their tactics, such as gerrymandering, are meant to maintain political power rather than support fair elections.
I am very thankful to live in Hawaii where it is easy to vote. I trust the safeguards. There is no evidence of fraud. I feel sorry for citizens who live in other states where they must be extremely vigilant and proactive in order for their votes to count. The Dream that Martin Luther King Jr. referred to is more than “let’s just all get along.” It is about justice, fairness, equality.
Voting is key.
Diane Aoki is a resident of Kealakekua.
