THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Columnist Don Feder criticizes the League of Women Voters' stance on voting registration (op-ed page, Sept. 19). The column is less than factual.
To equate increased voter registration with increased social ills is less than scientific. Using different connections, you could with more justification equate social problems with the decrease in the minimum wage in real dollars after inflation.
The more that people are involved and connected with their government, the more they are apt to feel empowered and responsible. Isn't this what democracy is all about?
Of course, we could return to the early days of the Republic, when only land-owning white males could vote. Franchisement of freeholders, African Americans, women and, finally, 18-year-olds makes for improvement in our government.
I support the League of Women Voters and others who advocate easier access to voter registration. To be informed and to vote one's convictions is a citizen's responsibility. It was to this end that my husband and I recently spent volunteer time with other deputy registrars in registering some 73 citizens at a local Wal-Mart.
All eligible citizens who are not registered should contact their registrars, and do so before Oct. 1, in order to vote for or against the three proposed constitutional amendments to the Virginia Constitution and to participate in choosing their U.S. senator.
JENNETTE M. FRANKLIN
Norfolk, Sept. 21, 1994 by CNB