Judgment is a relief

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am about the repeal of the voter-ID law. As an election official, I attended my second training session this year earlier this month. There was so much confusion during the section on voter IDs that we ran over the time allotted.

I realized that, in May, we did it all wrong, which is probably why so many provisional ballots were pitched. The law required that we only look at the picture and name of the photo identification provided. We checked addresses, and if the addresses were different from the voter registration information, we all were confused as to what to do, and had to call upon our chief judge time after time. We were not supposed to look at the addresses, and that is tantamount to huge fines for the election official.

I raised this issue at the training session, and found that many others were under the impression that we were doing what we thought was the purpose of a voter’s identification.

I could crawl on my knees to thank the Arkansas Supreme Court for pitching this new requirement. Republicans should know that this law they initiated could very possibly disenfranchise their own voters. I believe voter fraud is minuscule here in Arkansas compared to those who would have been denied their right to vote.

I encourage all voters to get out and vote, and to make sure you protect your own interests as well as the interests of all Arkansans. SHARON WILLIAMS

Little Rock