Vote’s time has come

Susan Inman’s recent essay regarding voting by mail presents an idea whose time has come for Arkansas and all other states. My home state of Oregon has had no polling places, no formal early voting, no squabbles about photo ID, and no Russian interference in elections beginning in 1998. Its mail-only elections are efficient and cost-effective.

As Ms. Inman points out, voter participation is high and problems are low. It’s a good concept.

However, voting by mail needs a second step that is in use in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, the three states that have taken the plunge completely. That second step is providing a detailed nonpartisan paper voter pamphlet that informs potential voters about the candidates (in Oregon and Washington) and, more importantly, about the ballot measures (in all three states).

Candidates can make a brief appeal, for a nominal price, to the voters, getting broad exposure for a small cost. The ballot issues to be decided by the voters are described in layman’s language so no one is put off (or on) by a misleading title or by having to wade through seeming miles of legalese. Beyond a nonpartisan description of the issue, each side is given an opportunity to make its case for passage or not, again for a nominal cost. From there voters can make a truly informed decision.

Oregon has had voter guides, including county races, for over 75 years to my knowledge. These guides are common in the West, less so in the rest of the country, with a variety of funding approaches. They are a great aid to voters, and whether or not Arkansas goes to a vote-by-mail approach, it should strongly consider offering a voters’ guide for every general election in the state. DENNIS BARRY

Little Rock