Archived Opinion

Don’t pass a voter ID requirement

To the Editor:

I ask that our newly elected Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, lead the way for the state Republican representatives and vote no to the unneccessary imposition of a government issued Voter ID on North Carolinians. This will ultimately be an outrageous and uncalled for expense for our state budget as well as for those who can ill afford but will be expected to obtain these IDs.

I have supplied your office with just one of several available studies on the ultimate cost this will impose on all our taxpayers. Studies, readily available on the Internet conclude this is not a cost effective effort. Even studies that do not specifically state the ultimate expense of implementation waffle on the actual benefit of such a bill.  

In short, the proposed bill will not be a solution nor a deterrent to what is a virtually non-existent problem, so why create a taxpayer expense?

Your email response was that our sources differ, however did not detail or provide a link to any source where you find proof other than non-specific references. This appears as a ploy to block the vote of a select segment of North Carolinians. This same ploy is now being foisted as a cost-cutting effort on the public in so many other states.

You further stated that we could therefore agree to disagree. That would be fine under other less important circumstances that would not negatively impact many of our citizens, or the state budget. What’s needed is a bonafide “do-good solution” for real and present problems! A solution that actually creates jobs, supports education, benefits our environment, and other truly pressing needs. This bill is a only a “feel-good solution” to a mythical problem of extensive voter fraud.

So no, we can’t simply agree to disagree – you have a vote, I do not. My option as a voter is to request that you utilize your vote to its highest and best purpose to benefit our state and our people.

Shirley Ches

Franklin

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.