Letter To The Editor: Murphy's Voter ID Bill

To The Editor: an open letter to State Senator Terrence Murphy

Dear Senator Murphy:

Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to read this letter. I am one of your Democratic constituents. That said, I actually think you’ve been a decent State Senator. You and I don’t agree on a lot of issues but there are some things you have done – school safety, drug education – that I quite applaud. Also, I had the chance to meet with your staff on some gun issues, including a request to fund the Firearm Research Institute at SUNY university, and I found them to be both respectful and intelligent. I think the staff a politician chooses says a lot about themselves.

So, why am I here today to deliver this letter? I believe that it is vital that we make it possible for as many of our citizen who are able to vote to vote. A participatory Democracy is a strong democracy. I have read your proposed Senate bill [S298]. As a volunteer voter registrar, I have made it a point to become familiar with voter requirements. From a first reading of your bill, from what I can tell, it seems to track with current standards. So, I suppose, I’m wondering why you are introducing a bill that seems to make no real change in the law(?) Are you asking that people use ID EVERY time they vote? From my experience, most do. Have you noticed a large issue with Voter Fraud in New York that needs to be addressed? In that case, wouldn’t it make sense for you to introduce narratives that would inform your constituents?

Those of us who wish to increase voter turnout are naturally wary of any action that might cause members of the general public to worry that exercising their constitutionally given right to vote could lead to legal complications. In my experience registering people to vote, most voter law violations come from ignorance rather than intent. Perhaps instead of this type of law, you might want to support the following:

1. Help to increase voter turnout by making voting easier with the following changes:
   1. Create a standardized training program for New York State Voter Registrars. It could be done in an hour and it would make sure that all registrars have the correct information
   2. Enable automatic registration of every citizen through the Department of Motor Vehicles or other Government agency at the same time they issue the Government Issued Photo ID your bill requires;
   3. Automatically transfer registrations of New Yorkers who move within the state;
   4. Pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds;
   5. Make it easier for voters to switch parties;
   6. Allow for same day voter registration;
   7. Allow for early voting;
   8. Expand the circumstances that allow for absentee or affidavit voting;
   9. Open Primaries so that party unaffiliated voters can vote.

Very truly yours,

Rose Rowland

Cortlandt Manor, New York