Alfieri bill attacks our right to vote

The proposed Alfieri bill, to limit absentee voting, was a topic of discussion, consternation and concern at our weekly prayer circle gathering. We range in age from 70 to 95 and we take our right to vote very seriously. Our fathers, grandfathers and some of our husbands fought in wars that had every bit to do with freedom and democracy. The right to vote is the keystone of any democracy. 

We were very concerned about the restrictions of absentee voting, which serves thousands of citizens: the elderly, the physically impaired, those without transportation, those with fragile health, snowbirds, etc. All these folks will be stripped of their right to vote.

Is this the “cleansing” of the polls that Alfieri says is needed?

Alfieri pitched the bill saying it opens the door to fraud. According to the office of the Idaho Secretary of State, its review of the November 2020 election was executed with only a roughly 0.1% margin of error. That margin opens the door to fraud?

Mr. Alfieri claims absentee voting “cheapens the voting process.” Really? Does restricting absentee voting make it more worthy? He also claims the bill “will make the clerk’s job a little bit easier” and for that reason, Alfieri wants to make the lives of thousands of others more difficult!

This bill is senseless and more importantly, dangerous to democracy. Such flimsy reasons for pitching this bill are really just a blatant smokescreen. Mr. Alfieri really wants a cleansing of the roles to allow for a more restrictive voting representation.  

In a society, democracy is only successful if it’s for the good of all. It’s time we pull the curtain back on those in charge and reveal who’s pulling the strings.

As wisdom elders, concerned with democracy, we will not be silent on voter suppression. Not on our watch. Not while we still have a voice and our right to vote. We hope other groups and individual citizens will join our protest of this blatant elimination of our right to vote.

Women’s Circle

JEANELLE SHIELDS

KAREN LANPHEAR

LOIS MILLER

GAEA SWINFORD

JACKIE KNECHTGES

PEGGY SARDOWSKI

JEANNE BALL

Sandpoint