The Dead Can't Vote

In a recent article from the San Antonio Express News entitled “Counties Have To Ask If Some Voters Are Dead” by Mike Morris and Peggy Fikac gives registered voters something to think about. It should pique most of our interests considering it’s a presidential voting year. It also brings concerns to our counties in Texas.

The article demonstrated just how important the Secretary of State’s office is in overseeing elections in Texas and being responsible to see that everyone eligible to vote can do so successfully. The discrepancy in the state list was that it erroneously had “tens of thousands of voters” shown to be dead. According to the list, those “presumed dead” should have their voter registration canceled.

The tension rises as counties have to verify if those listed are truly dead. There are “about 72,800 voters statewide” on the list and “they must act within 30 days to stay on rolls.” We as adults should find this article to be of interest as we make our own ways to the polls in November. We all have the right to vote and all have opinions as to who should be elected.

Can you imagine if on election day you go to the polls and they say, “sorry, you can’t vote because you never responded to our letters and we presumed you were dead!” How upset would you feel that more steps weren’t taken to verify the new state list? Our votes do count and we must make sure we are properly registered.