Stephen Meskers

No American should have to choose between their health and their right to vote. My late father was a navy veteran and I can only imagine what he would say about American citizens being forced to put their health at risk
to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

 

As we watch the uptick in infection rates in 21 states, it is clear how real the widespread health risks are. We should not force people to go to the polls during this public health crisis. This is why I support the expanded use of absentee ballots. Objecting to and suing to thwart the use of absentee ballots is specifically designed to reduce voter turn-out and suppress the vote. There is no material voter fraud in the U.S. and claims to the contrary are pure fiction.

Currently, our State Constitution limits voting to one day and the restrictions on how we physically cast our votes are archaic and not reflective of the times in which we live. We need more voter reforms and that will take time. My mother is 89 and lives in Florida where she will be voting early and by mail. If she were living in Connecticut, she would have to choose between endangering her life or waiving her constitutional right to vote - no American should have to make that choice.