The upcoming election provides us, as Delawareans, an opportunity to elect a General Assembly that will ensure enhanced voting rights for us. The Delaware Constitution mandates that elections take place on the first Tuesday in November. Therefore, we need a constitutional amendment to allow an early-voting period. The General Assembly was on a trajectory to accomplish this a couple of years ago. Democrats and Republicans both voted for this amendment. Every amendment requires passage by the General Assembly in two successive assembly sessions. But, on the second stage of moving the amendment into law, Republican House Reps. Mike Ramone of Newark (District 21) and Mike Smith of Pike Creek (District 22) changed their earlier yes votes to no. The amendment failed. Delaware Republicans are taking their marching orders from Donald Trump and national Republicans, who choose consistently to undermine voting rights. National Republicans believe deeply that they will never achieve a majority in fair and free elections; their only hope is to suppress the vote of ordinary Americans.
It is for this reason that I call on all of us in Delaware to return Democrats to the General Assembly. If we do, we will be able to make sure we have early-voting options for us all. Early voting gives us the option to vote at a time and place that is convenient to us. The unknowns of what Election Day may bring — like long lines at the polling place when we need to get to work or an unexpected emergency — can upset the most sincere efforts to vote.
So, mark your calendars to vote early between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3 or on Election Day, Nov. 5. Be sure to select Democrats for Representative District 21 (Frank Burns) and for Representative District 22 (Monica Beard) when you vote. We need Democrats to make sure the amendment to provide an early-voting period passes in Delaware.
Bruce Dalleo
Wilmington
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
