This is in response to Luke Jensen’s letter, “Photo ID won’t hurt voting access” (Feb. 6).

I write in response to his last paragraph: “Regarding a political right to free transportation to the polls: It didn’t make James Madison’s list, but I like to think he would have chuckled and asked why individuals refused to walk with their own two legs.”

Perhaps, Jensen isn’t aware that Lewiston and Auburn have an extensive rural community and that walking to the polls is not a real option for the rural or urban voting population. I wonder how Madison would have dealt with citizens who are wheelchair-bound or rely on artificial limbs to live a “normal” life?

It seems that, as time goes on, the percentage of people voting keeps going down and many people are elected to office with less than a majority of the vote. Further, many elections are so close that a recount is required to determine the true winner.

Is Jensen of the opinion that only the able-bodied and privileged should be able to vote?

Or does society, as a whole, have a responsibility to those who seem lost in the passage of time?

Norman Smith, Poland

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