Voter ID laws are not racist

Submitted by David Kellett
Posted 4/29/21

Dear Editor:

I am sitting here listening to some college student attempt to communicate why he believes requiring voter ID is voter suppression. After many minutes of hemming and hawing his …

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Voter ID laws are not racist

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Dear Editor:

I am sitting here listening to some college student attempt to communicate why he believes requiring voter ID is voter suppression. After many minutes of hemming and hawing his argument came down to, “I really have no idea what I’m talking about.”

It is sad to see our youth today being convinced by media bias and the biases of their liberal professors that minorities somehow cannot get ID — then listen to them attempt to present their non-arguments that are without substance, which is just poorly mimicking what someone else told them.

I remember being a teenager and a college student. I remember echoing the same points that my instructors had given me without taking the time to research them. In other words, “I remember what it was like being stupid.” However, when it comes to voter ID and the integrity of our elections none of us can remain “stupid.”

Being able to vote is a right protected under the Constitution of the United States. Article I of the Constitution states that it is the people of each state who elect their representatives and the states will choose the time and manner of their elections. Then further along in the Constitution it protects the rights of citizens to vote.

The 14th Amendment penalized states for preventing black men the right to vote. The 15th Amendment guaranteed black Americans’ right to vote. The 19th Amendment granted the right to vote to women. The 24th Amendment banned poll taxes. The 26th Amendment granted 18-year-olds the right to vote.

Being that voting is a protected right under the Constitution, it should make good practice to protect the integrity of everyone’s vote. To do this laws, like the recent one signed by the governor, must be passed to protect the integrity of the vote.

Gov. Gordon, who is now being sued for an allegedly illegal closure and mask mandate, signed HB 75 into law. This law demonstrates how much Wyoming citizens were concerned about the integrity of our elections. We saw the things that happened in the 2020 election and we do not want that happening here.

I congratulate our legislators for performing their duty under the Wyoming Constitution under Article 6 Section 13 — Purity of elections to be provided for. They sided with the people of Wyoming, answered our concerns and assured that our elections here will be protected — that we will have fair, just and protected elections conducted with integrity. Thank you to our governor for signing this legislation into law.

It is sad to see that others consider these laws to be racist and somehow repressing the vote of minorities. According to a Rasmussen poll released on April 6, 75% of all Americans believe that ID should be required to vote. The poll found that 73% of black Americans believe voter ID should be required. It further showed that 81% of all other minorities want voter ID laws. How can this be racist?

The saddest thing I have seen lately is the purposeful polarization in my country. The division of people in our state is even growing. With the latest statistics I have to ask, “Why?”

We have so much more in common. We are Americans. Why do we let the subversive machinations of wicked men divide us? 

David Kellett

Powell

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