It’s about time we prioritize American citizens and ensure every legal vote counts without dilution from fraud or errors. Removing non-citizens, duplicates, and inactive registrations isn’t extreme—it’s common sense that protects our democracy.
Voters demanded this integrity, and seeing leaders like Schumer panic only confirms why it’s so necessary. Our republic depends on fair, transparent elections where the people’s voice rings true.
The hearing room was full by 8:30 a.m. It was supposed to start at 9.
Marcus was there because his precinct got a letter. “Voter Registration Audit, SAVE ACT Compliance Review.” He’d been the county clerk for 12 years. He knew every name in the book. Or he thought he did.
Across the table, Senator Callahan held a printout. “The majority leader said this bill would remove 20 million people from the voter rolls,” he said. “Is that true?”
Marcus didn’t answer right away. He pulled his own list. Three columns. Green, yellow, red.
“Green means verified,” he told the committee. “Birth certificate on file, or passport, or state ID that meets the new standard. About 61,000 voters in my county. They’re fine.”
He tapped the yellow column. “Yellow means incomplete. We have a name, address, signature, years of voting history. No certified citizenship document uploaded. State says we used to accept an affidavit. SAVE ACT says we can’t. That’s 4,212 people.”
“Red?” the senator asked.
“Red means conflict,” Marcus said. “Hyphenated name doesn’t match Social Security. Date of birth off by one digit. Moved from a state that didn’t require proof in 1998 and never updated. 687 people.”
A staffer did the math out loud. “That’s 4,899 out of 66,000. About 7.4 percent.”
“Do that nationally,” Callahan said. “You get 20 million.”
“Maybe,” Marcus said. “Maybe not. But I can tell you who they are in my county.”
He read three names.
Helen Bauer, 82. Widow. Born on a farm in 1943. No birth certificate. Baptismal record and a marriage license. Voted in 18 elections. Yellow list.
James R. Alvarez Jr. Mail carrier. His dad is James R. Alvarez Sr. One form says Jr., one doesn’t. Red list.
Daniel Okoye, 29. Naturalized in 2019. Certificate is in a box in his parents’ attic in another state. He has a photo on his phone. The law says photo isn’t enough. Yellow list.
Callahan leaned forward. “So they shouldn’t vote?”
Marcus closed the folder. “That’s not my job. My job is the list. My job is to tell you that on Tuesday, if this passes, I have to mail 4,899 letters. The letters say: prove it again, or you can’t vote in November.”
“GOOD,” someone in the audience yelled. “THAT’S what I voted for.”
Marcus didn’t look up. He knew that voice. It was Gary from the hardware store. Gary’s wife was Helen Bauer’s niece.
“What happens,” the senator asked, “if they don’t get the letter? Or they’re deployed. Or they’re 82 and don’t drive to the county seat?”
“Then they’re out,” Marcus said. “Until they fix it.”
“Can they fix it in a day?”
“Not if their birth certificate is in a courthouse basement in Ohio. Not if they’re working two jobs. Not if they’re Helen.”
The room got quiet.
Callahan set the printout down. “Twenty million is a number,” he said. “Helen is a person. James is a person. Daniel is a person.”
Gary stood up. “And I’m a person who voted for clean rolls.”
Marcus finally looked at him. “I know, Gary. You told me. You also told me Helen makes you apple pie every Sunday. You want me to tell her she’s off the roll?”
Gary sat down.
The committee adjourned at 11:03. No vote that day.
Marcus went back to the office. He had 4,899 envelopes in a box. He hadn’t addressed them yet.
He pulled Helen Bauer’s file. Baptismal record, 1943. Marriage license, 1964. Voter ID, 2002. Note in the margin from 2010: “Brought cookies for staff.”
He set it on top of the box.
He’d wait for the law. That was his job.
Deciding if it was good.
That wasn’t.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire