Horrors of democracy

The Democrat-Gazette reported that mail-in ballot applications mailed to active registered voters for Georgia primary elections produced very high turnout, especially for Democrats. A Georgia House committee forthwith approved legislation to outlaw such a heinous (my word, used sarcastically) act of democracy.

With refreshing candor, the House speaker said mail-in voting “will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives” in the general election.

There it is. A heartfelt lament that high voter turnout is “devastating to Republicans.” The confession renders moot posturing about possible fraud or the obligation to stand in a line, no matter how long, and wait your turn to be examined and deemed worthy of a ballot. Significant fraud is unproven, but discrimination against poor and minority voters is built in to the current administration of Arkansas elections.

Evidence from Georgia and other states is clear that mailing applications for mail-in ballots increases voter turnout with no increase in fraud.

Opposition to this proven, secure, common-sense, money-saving method to facilitate voting hearkens back to Jim Crow. Jim Crow was a blackface (a white man wearing black makeup) vaudeville character whose bumbling image was gleefully used to represent Blacks and justify racist laws. What fun!

Elected representatives and voters, reject the Jim Crow revival, confess your sins against democracy, and repent! Judgment is nigh.

P.S. This is indeed a slippery slope toward rampant democracy. Next: Respect prisoners as citizens and encourage them to participate in society by voting — by mail.

HOWELL MEDDERS

Fayetteville