Sen. Susan Collins would like us to believe that her support for clarifying the Electoral Count Act is an adequate substitution for her refusal to allow a vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would have safeguarded every American’s fundamental, unimpeded access to voting. It’s not. Not even close.
When states endeavor to make it more difficult for their citizens to vote, the federal government has the duty spelled out in the Constitution to intervene to ensure voting access. Nineteen Republican-led states have already passed 33 laws to make it more difficult for people to vote, and many more are in the pipeline.
The Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, aka Trump 2.0, is proposing his own “police force” to attack the almost non-existent election fraud that they want you to believe is rampant. Imagine how that will feel to the average Florida voter. This is how authoritarians get a foothold.
Sen. Angus King gave an impassioned speech in the Senate regarding the serious dangers posed by these Republican efforts. Sen. Collins shrugged.
In spite of anything positive Sen. Collins might have done during her years in Congress, this is what she’ll be remembered for: failing to stand up for everyone’s right to vote. Failing to support the cornerstone of our democracy when it mattered the most.
Mary Ann Larson
Cumberland
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