By Bryan Williams

Consulting the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for the definition of “suppression” does not alleviate the confusion with “fraud” as raised by the center column. The first definition is “to put an end to the activities of (a person, body of persons, etc.), and the second: “to do away with by, or as by authority; abolish; stop.”

Even in the much-maligned Georgia law, there is not much a conservative or Republican, or any thinking person really, should have a problem with, save for the removal of the secretary of state from the election’s board.

Where does the new law restrict the right to vote? Sure, there was some tightening, but for the most part, the Georgia law makes sense. No politician should be able to hand out bottles of water with her or his name on it to people in line at the polling place.

Years ago as a Republican Party volunteer, I was running to various polling sites across my city I, checking the rolls to see who had voted. I would write down the names of those who hadn’t, race back to HQ, and call them to see if they intended to vote and whether they needed a ride or any such assistance. I was wearing a “Reagan for President” shirt that day, Election Day 2012. I was ushered out by a county poll worker who said my shirt advocated for a certain party and I couldn’t be there.

So I left. Even though Reagan wasn’t on the ballot. And this was in California, land of the easiest, least restrictive voting laws.

It is my firm belief that voting has gone out of control in the United States. In my last column on this subject, I said voting should be easy and available within reason.  Americans love decentralized power, and for the most part, this is a good thing. All those arguments between the Federalist John Adams and Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson were very worthy, and the blend of their two world views gave us the country, culture, and norms we have today. Overarching state laws that streamline and standardize voting laws, reigning in disparate counties that are small and rural and may not have the ability, funding, or manpower to have polling places open as often as they should be are necessary. Where do most poor people live, who have the hardest time getting to the polling place after work? In rural or small-town/county regions of America. The Georgia bill addresses this.

Zoom out now and use that argument above for an overarching federal voting law. That’s where I have a problem. We are made up of 50 smaller, more local governments formed together in a union. “All politics is local,” right? What’s good or what works in microscopic Delaware doesn’t work in complex, spread-out California. 

Also, mark me down as one who says you should produce an ID when you ask for a ballot. It just makes sense. Likewise, same-day voter registration. Liberals are usually in tune with the “plight” of the government worker, so give them a break! Give them a week or two to process new voter registration cards.

The resistance to passing HR 1 represents our government at work here. Yes, it’s frustrating and slow and it is easy to blame Republicans for gumming up the system when something needs to be done now.  But we have the government we asked for because we voted for it to be this way. Massage the bill so it can be passed, or just let the states and courts work it out. Adams and Jefferson, I think, would agree.