Thank you for printing the letter from Bob Cariffe today. It helped me narrow my field of choice for the Sept. 23rd election by eliminating him. Mr. Cariffe complained of “fraud and corruption” in the absentee balloting process. He cites
Thank you for printing the letter from Bob Cariffe today. It helped me narrow
my field of choice for the Sept. 23rd election by eliminating him.
Mr.
Cariffe complained of “fraud and corruption” in the absentee balloting process.
He cites only some discrepancies between absentee and election-day final vote
counts as backup. He states that absentee balloting “does not have a high level
of policing,” but he doesn’t back up his statement with details or with any
correlation to “fraud and corruption.” There are many reasons for discrepancies
between election-day and absentee vote counts, not the least of which is that
those of us who vote absentee generally do so prior to the last-minute
grandstanding and ballyhooing by some ( not all) candidates.
More often
than not, I vote by absentee ballot. I’ve done so for years. It permits me to
ponder the ballot and make carefully considered choices. It also assures me
that my vote will be counted if, without notice, I’m called out of town or
detained in other matters on election day. Plus, I don’t have to waste time
and transportation costs by driving to the polls and waiting in line. I am not
aware of any part of the absentee voting process which is or could be
corrupted.
For Mr. Cariffe to even hint at the elimination of absentee
voting is, to me, preposterous. He would disenfranchise the home-bound, the
ailing and aged, those without transportation, and those who are out of town
(for personal or business reasons). It is unthinkable.
Soon, perhaps in the
2002 election, many of us will vote electronically. Maybe polling places will
disappear altogether during my lifetime. We’re in the fast lane, and it’s time
for Mr. Cariffe to move over.
SUE BURRIS
Lihu’e
