Editor, the Commercial:
While Milton Jenkins is entitled to his views, his facts are wanting. The elderly lady in Tennessee applied for a photo ID using her married name with a birth certificate containing her maiden name ergo the marriage license request. Bill Gibbons, commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security, admitted the clerk who rejected Mrs. Cooper made a mistake and should have used commonsense and given her the ID. They did.
There are many occasions that require photo identification far less significant than voting. Cashing a check, applying for welfare, commercial flights, renting a car, taking the ferry to Ship Island, MS, buying an alcoholic beverage, opening a bank account, and applying for a passport come to mind. So what is the big deal about proving you are the voter you claim to be by showing a photo ID? “Suppressing voter turnout” is an overused buzz word that assumes black voters automatically vote for black candidates. That contention should be an affront to every black voter. Moreover, President Obama is doing such a great job on his own; he does not need much Republican help to not be reelected. Early voting in Arkansas needs tweaking. It should begin and end two days earlier to permit County Clerks to prepare current precinct voter books to prevent opportunities for voter fraud. There has never been talk about reducing early voting because of its popularity. However, this is a moot point since the law cannot be changed until the 2013 legislature meets.
So rest easy Mr. Jenkins, the sky is not falling.
Stuart Soffer
Jefferson County Republican Committee