Here is a thought about what should be in the federal voting rights bills, based on my experience.
Early on, I lived in Arlington, Virginia. I was determined to vote in the 1984 election, and in disbelief, I stood at my polling place for hours and hours. My mom taught me the importance of voting, so I asked why there were only five machines available. Reply: “County couldn’t afford it.” “What? Arlington County, home to numerous government buildings, high taxes and tons of young, enthusiastic, motivated professionals?” People around me started to laugh.
Now I live in Maine. We don’t have that problem here. Never have.
Town Clerk Kim McLaughlin explained to me, “Title 21A, subsection 629.1A, for a general election requires one election booth per 200 active voters … and subsection 629.1A-1 specifies the number of booths for easy accessibility as well.” Kim continued that she adds more now with COVID. See legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-A/title21-Asec629.html. In Maine, we uphold the right to vote by starting with standard access.
Pass a federal voting rights bill that requires each voting district to provide a minimum number of polling booths and counting mechanisms per 10,000 people. How hard is that? I don’t know what the exact number should be, but I think establishing basic standardized access for Americans to vote, regardless of where we live, is a reasonable standard we all deserve.
Robin M. Dayton
Old Orchard Beach
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