Don’t take away universal mail-in voting

When the Pennsylvania Legislature reconvenes in January, among the bills being considered will be a rollback of Act 77, the legislation that expanded voting rights to include universal mail-in voting. During a pandemic, it is unthinkable that our legislators would consider returning to a system that required Pennsylvania voters to brave long lines and adverse health conditions.

For years, citizens have been chastised for low voter turnout. Americans have been branded as uninterested, uncaring and lazy for not voting. Yet, following an election in which nearly 71% of eligible Pennsylvanians turned out, some in Harrisburg are trying to resurrect barriers to safe, convenient voting.

The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County urges citizens of the Lehigh Valley to write letters to the editor, and email or call their legislators, asking them to maintain the expanded voting rights we gained through Act 77 in November 2019.

The existing rules might need some tweaking, but should not be rescinded.

Donna G. Barker

Upper Milford Township

The writer is a board member of the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County.