This is in response to Patti Gagne’s letter, “Poor people do vote,” published Jan. 24.

I would point out to her that the fastest growing segment of Maine’s population consists of senior citizens. These are folks, many of whom no longer hold a valid driver’s license, who live in an apartment or assisted living facility and will never fly and probably will never rent a car. Who will ensure that those people have a photo ID?

She stated that even the least among us must have a photo ID to stay at a homeless shelter. As she is a volunteer at the shelter, she must know how those folks are assisted in getting a photo ID. Do those folks also get assistance in getting to the polls to vote?

There seems to be an effort in this country to make it more difficult for citizens to vote. The people we elect are supposed to represent all the people and protect their best interests. I would challenge that premise, based on the influence of money in politics.

The people of a past generation probably did not own a car, lived in an apartment their entire life and walked to work, but they could vote without a photo ID.

Gagne stated, “Requiring a photo ID will not prohibit people from getting their basic necessities.” Really? And when she stood at the polling places on Election Day, did she see a lot of those “poor” people voting?

Norman Smith, Poland

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