Ballot issues mislead

Proposed constitutional amendments Issues 1 and 2, to be voted on in the Nov. 6 general election, are both misleading and unnecessary.

Concerning Issue 1, it looks as though the attorney general and General Assembly are at it again! Trying to confuse voters by combining two unrelated items: (1) Civil lawsuits (tort reform), and (2) granting power to the General Assembly to adopt rules for the Supreme Court, making the popular name of Issue 1 sound as though the General Assembly already has power to adopt rules for the Supreme Court.

I believe, even to bestow favor or authority on the Legislature, the attorney general should never be permitted to approve ballot titles which commingle two or more different issues to be voted on as a single issue. Each matter should be presented under a separate issue number. Voters should have the opportunity to decide separately which issue(s) they choose to support.

Over the years I have found the Supreme Court quite capable of setting its own rules, based on the law, without legislative assistance. The General Assembly has enough difficulty taking care of its own legal problems. One seldom hears about graft and malfeasance on the Supreme Court as we do repeatedly in the General Assembly.

On Issue 2: If requiring voters to present photo identification is such a great idea, why does the Legislature need to give itself authority to grant exceptions?

LOUISE HENDERSON

Hot Springs Village